Preparations for approaching Typhoon “Ulysses” are in full swing in the City of Manila to ensure the safety of residents, the city mayor announced on Wednesday.
In an interview with DZMM, Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso said they have already activated two temporary evacuation centers at Rosauro Almario Elementary School and Isabelo delos Reyes Elementary School, both in Tondo, Manila.
Domagoso said he ordered the Manila Department of Social Welfare (MDSW) to prepare hot meals, blankets, and hygiene kits for the evacuees.
The Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) began the preemptive evacuation of residents living in critical areas at Smokey Mountain at around 2:20 p.m.
Typhoon Ulysses is expected to make landfall over Polillo Islands and mainland Quezon between Wednesday night and early Thursday morning.
It will then cross Central Luzon and come out over the Western Seaboard of Zambales between Thursday morning and afternoon.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) raised Signal No. 3 over Metro Manila due to the typhoon on Wednesday morning.
The Manila mayor admitted that it is a "challenge" to maintain physical distancing at evacuation centers amid the pandemic, but assured evacuees that they will implement measures to keep them safe.
"It's very challenging when a surge of people appears. But rest assured to those who are listening that we will continue to practice minimum health protocols whole we take care of our constituents when we evacuate them," he said in a mix of English and Filipino.
"It is going to be challenging kapag tuloy-tuloy ang bagyo. Uunahin natin ilikas ang mga kababayan nating posibleng mailagay sa panganib. Umasa po kayo na lagi nating susundin iyan kahit magpatong-patong ang aberya (when the storms continue. We will prioritize evacuating our residents who live in critical zones. You can rest assured that we will always follow that even if the disasters strike at the same time)," he added.
Domagoso also called on residents to prepare themselves for the typhoon by stocking up on ready-to-eat food, flashlights, batteries, and other disaster preparedness items.
"Kailangan maging vigilant. Kapag may announcement ang government, pinakamabisa lagi ay maghanda. Pagkain, tubig, baterya, (You must be vigilant. When the government has an announcement, the most effective thing to do is to prepare. Food, water, batteries) and so on and so forth," he said.