Soliman: ‘Evacuate, we don’t want you hurt’

MANILA, Philippines –  Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Juliano Soliman urged residents in areas affected by Tropical Storm Chedeng (Maysak) to listen to their local government units when evacuation is ordered.

“Ayaw po nating merong masaktan (We don’t want anyone to get hurt),” Soliman said, emerging from an NDRRMC meeting on Saturday night, April 4. (READ: NDRRMC warns against floods, landslides in Chedeng areas)

As of 5 pm Saturday, Soliman said at least 243 families in Isabela have evacuated from their houses located in vulnerable areas.

In Dinapigue, the border town of Aurora and Isabela provinces where Typhoon Chedeng is expected to hit land, at least 33 families sought shelter in the municipal hall.

Preventive evacuation (As of 5 pm, April 4, 2015)

Source: DSWD

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Austere Panadero earlier announced affected local government units were alerted to implement preemptive evacuation beginning Saturday. (READ: CHECKLIST: What mayors should do 48 hours before typhoon hits land)

.@Official_DILG Panadero: Preemptive evacuation in vulnerable areas including Aurora and Camarines Sur has started #ChedengPH

— Voltaire Tupaz (@VoltaireTupaz) April 4, 2015

Preemptive evacuation is one of the set of critical preparedness actions local governments should be taking 48 hours before Typhoon Chedeng (Maysak) hits land, Panadero said.

Tropical Storm Chedeng is expected to make landfall between 4 and 6 am on Sunday, according to state weather bureau PAGASA. (READ: Chedeng weakens as tropical storm; 26 areas warned) – Rappler.com