The Province of Eastern Samar is on Red alert status, beginning 5 a.m. on Thursday, September 25, 2025.

Areas in Eastern Samar started to experience rainfall at dawn. 

According to Engr. Thomas Campomanes, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduciton and Management Officer of Eastern Samar, they fear the calm that precedes a storm, as the storm gathers strength while barreling through.

“Pero nakakatakot yung ganito eh, pag tahimik, pag bumigay yan, kakampante yung mga tao. Kaya pinaalalahanan namin na kung ano ang bilin ng mga LDRRMOs, kasi kung anong utos sa amin galing ng OCD, yun ibabato namin sa LDRRMOs, at sila na ang magbibigay ng impormasyon sa mga barangay,” Campomanes.

LDRRMO stands for Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, while OCD means Office of the Civil Defense. 

The Municipal Health Office, Bureau of Fire Protection, and the Philippine National Police, as well as rescue equipment are all ready for the possible ill effects of #OpongPH.

Rescue vehicles drove to the barangays to monitor the condition of waterways and the sea; landslide-prone and flood-prone areas.

Evacuation centers are also prepared, as well as family food packs.

As of posting time, disaster preparedness is ongoing in Guiuan town, Eastern Samar.

Members of the Municipal DRRMO met for additional preparation. Forced evacuation of residents in coastal barangays, particularly Victory Island, has been implemented. The residents were taken to the mainland.

The Municipality of Guiuan has at least 45 coastal barangays. 

”First action nga gibuhat would be to identify ang kinahanglan og preemptive evacuation sa atong coastal communities and we are in fact conducting forced evacuation sa usa ka island barangay,” said Eric Cordero, public information officer of Guiuan Incident Management Team.

Rainshowers started to fall in Guiuan as of September 25, 2025. 

To ensure safety, trips to and from the mainland have been suspended, while boats have been moved to elevated grounds.

Meanwhile, preemptive evacuation was undertaken by personnel of Arteche MDRRMO. Arteche is located in the northern part of Eastern Samar. The preemptive evacuation was intended to assist residents in coastal areas.

However, there were residents who refused to evacuate, citing they would leave but only when the condition worsens.

“Sa Poblacion meron tayong apat na barangay, outside sa Poblacion merong dalawa, sa Barangay Buenavista at Cardaban, meron ding riverside barangays, mga nine barangays ang submerged kung merong ulan,” said Mark Joseph Zantua, head of MDRRMO-Arteche.