Families evacuate after Signal 3 hoisted in Laguna

SAN PEDRO CITY –– The city government here began evacuating families from high-risk areas, while remote classes were suspended in Biñan City on Wednesday shortly after the state weather bureau placed Laguna and the rest of Calabarzon under the tropical cyclone wind signal 3.

Laguna disaster response chief Aldwin Cejo said preemptive evacuation in this city started around noon, hours before Typhoon “Ulysses” was expected to hit the province.

In Biñan City, Mayor Walfredo Dimaguila Jr. issued an advisory canceling afternoon classes in all levels.

While classes this year are being held remotely or online due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, local governments are issuing class suspensions during a typhoon in anticipation of unstable internet connection or phone signals.

Laguna Gov. Ramil Hernandez also reminded residents, especially those in areas prone to flooding and landslides, to stay alert.

At 10 a.m. today, the center of Typhoon ‘Ulysses” was located 100 km north of Virac, the capital town of Catanduanes, moving west-northwest at 20 kilometers per hour, packing winds of up to 125 kph near the center and gusts of up to 155 kph.

Tropical cyclone wind signal 3 was hoisted over the southern portion of Aurora (Dipaculao, Baler, Maria Aurora, San Luis, Dingalan), the southern portion of Nueva Ecija (Bongabon, Gabaldon, General Tinio, Laur, Palayan City, Cabanatuan City, Santa Rosa, Peñaranda, Gapan City, San Leonardo, Jaen, San Antonio, San Isidro, Cabiao), the eastern portion of Pampanga (Candaba, Arayat, Santa Ana, Mexico, San Luis, San Simon, San Fernando City, Santo Tomas, Apalit, Minalin, Bacolor, Santa Rita, Guagua, Macabebe, Masantol, Sasmuan, Lubao), Bulacan, Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, the northern and central portions of Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta, Real, Mauban, Sampaloc, Lucban, Tayabas City, Sariaya, Candelaria, Dolores, Tiaong, San Antonio, Lucena City, Pagbilao, Atimonan, Padre Burgos, Unisan, Agdangan, Gumaca, Plaridel, Pitogo, Macalelon, Lopez, General Luna, Catanauan, Buenavista, Guinayangan, Tagkawayan, Calauag, Quezon, Alabat, Perez) including Polillo Islands, Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, and the northern portion of Camarines Sur (Del Gallego, Ragay, Lupi, Sipocot, Cabusao, Bombon, Calabanga, Tinambac, Siruma, Goa, Lagonoy, San Jose, Garchitorena, Presentacion, Caramoan).

Placed under Signal Number 2 were the central and southern portions of Quirino (Maddela, Cabarroguis, Aglipay, Nagtipunan), the central and southern portions of Nueva Vizcaya (Kasibu, Bambang, Kayapa, Dupax Del Norte, Dupax Del Sur, Aritao, Santa Fe, Alfonso Castaneda), the southern portion of Benguet (Bokod, Itogon, Tublay, La Trinidad, Sablan, Baguio City, Tuba), the southern portion of La Union (Burgos, Naguilian, Bauang, Caba, Aringay, Tubao, Pugo, Santo Tomas, Rosario, Agoo), Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Tarlac, the rest of Pampanga, the rest of Nueva Ecija, the rest of Aurora, Batangas, the rest of Quezon, Marinduque, the northern portion of Occidental Mindoro (Paluan, Abra de Ilog), including Lubang Island, the northern portion of Oriental Mindoro (Pola, Victoria, Naujan, Baco, Calapan City, San Teodoro, Puerto Galera), the rest of Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, and Burias, and Ticao Islands.

Under Signal Number 1 were Isabela, the rest of Quirino, the rest of Nueva Vizcaya, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, the rest of Benguet, Abra, Ilocos Sur, the rest of La Union, the rest of Occidental Mindoro, the rest of Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, and the rest of Masbate — in Luzon.

In the Visayas, under Signal Number 1 were Northern Samar, the northern portion of Samar (Santo Nino, Almagro, Tagapul-An, Tarangnan, Calbayog City, Santa Margarita, Gandara, Pagsanghan, San Jorge, San Jose de Buan, Matuguinao), and the northern portion of Eastern Samar (Maslog, Dolores, Oras, San Policarpo, Arteche, Jipapad).

ZB