Governor Dennis “Delta” Pineda has readied personnel, rescue vehicles and equipment, food packs and medicines to areas at risks of flooding, landslides and storm surges.
This as Rolly made landfall in Bato, Catanduanes early this morning with PAGASA raising storm signal no 5 in Catanduanes.
Angie Blanco, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) Officer said the governor also suspended work in government agencies and private companies by way of an executive order and after consultation with the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Several pre-emptive evacuations in coastal villages have been carried out to put people out of harm’s way.
Five permanent evacuation centers have been readied.
Private organizations and businesses have lent facilities for disaster responses.
Blanco said health protocols against COVID-19 are integrated in PDRRMC’s responses.
“We are ready to mitigate and reduce the damages of Severe Typhoon Rolly on our people as well as on private and public properties, said Governor Pineda, chair of the PDRRMC.
He advised people to stay alert and stay home in order to be safe.
The Pampanga provincial government has distributed food packs to 24,214 families living in 51 barangays flooded by high tides and rains spawned by Severe Tropical Storm Pepito and Typhoon Quinta last week.
The relief operations in Masantol and Macabebe towns intended to help the residents prepare for Rolly, Governor Pineda said.
He said he expected floods to worsen in the two low-lying towns as these are located downstream of the Pampanga River, the main drainer of 30 river systems in Central Luzon starting from Nueva Ecija.
Each pack contains five kilograms of rice, four cans of sardines and corned beef.
The weather bureau PAG-ASA has placed Pampanga under Signal No. 3 on Sunday morning. –Luisse Rutao