By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.
QUEZON CITY — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has prepositioned mobility assets near the areas along the path of super typhoon “Uwan”.
LTFRB Chairperson Atty. Vigor D. Mendoza II said that the mobilization and prepositioning of land vehicles is in response to the directive of Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez to assist in the response for “Uwan” in line with the order of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. for all government agencies to be on alert for a unified government response.
“As instructed, our personnel are ready to augment all the government efforts to immediately extend assistance to the affected residents. Nasa super typhoon na ang category ng bagyong ito kaya inaasahan natin ang matinding epekto nito sa ating mga kababayan,” Chairperson Mendoza said.
“Our goal is to immediately provide the assistance because this is what our President Marcos wanted all government agencies to do—to make the government presence felt before, during and immediately after the weather disturbance,” he stressed.
Mendoza earlier instructed all Regional Directors to mobilize as many land assets that could be used for disaster response for any eventuality amid concerns of the adverse effects of “Uwan”.
In the memorandum issued by Secretary Lopez, all the agencies under the DOTr were tasked to prepare for the expected adverse effects of typhoon “Uwan”.
The LTFRB was tasked to assist in mobilizing trucks, buses and other land vehicles for the transport of relief goods and other assistance to the areas that would be affected.
However, Mendoza included in the task of concerned RDs to issue travel advisory against any non-essential travel to the areas identified by weather experts as the path of “Uwan”.
Storm signal number 5 was already hoisted over some areas in Bicol Region and Quezon.
Several areas in Luzon and the Visayas are now under Signal Number 3 and 2 while the rest are under lower storm signals.
Some areas in Catanduanes and other parts of Bicol region experienced flooding and storm surge.
“Uwan is also expected to make a landfall either in Central Luzon or Northern Luzon.
PAGASA also warned that Uwan will bring heavy rains in Luzon and some parts of the Visayas in the next three days. ###
