DEPARTMENT of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año urged on Friday, October 30, 2020, local government units in Luzon to heighten disaster preparedness as powerful Typhoon Rolly (Goni) approached.

At 3 p.m. Friday, the typhoon further intensified as its maximum sustained winds increased to 185 kilometers per hour (km/h) with gustiness of up to 230 km/h.

It was estimated at 990 km. east of Casiguran, Aurora and was moving westward at 20 km/h.

“Hindi na kailangan aantayin mo yung bagyo bago mag-evacuate lalo na sa mga low-lying areas sa eastern seaboard natin,” Año said in a radio interview.

(Don’t wait for the typhoon before enforcing evacuations, especially along the eastern seaboard.)

“Importante talaga safety muna yung mga kababayan natin. Yung puwedeng tamaan ng typhoon surge at pagbaha, landslide at erosion, safe dapat muna sila from those. 'Yung mga property, wala tayo magagawa diyan, talagang sisirain yan ng bagyo pero kaya naman ma-repair,” he added.

(It is important to ensure the safety of our countrymen who are vulnerable to storm surge, flooding, landslides and soil erosion. We can’t do anything about properties, but we can repair them after the typhoon.)

Año said there will be separate evacuation centers aside from those used as quarantine facilities for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) patients. Quarantine facilities that are no longer being used and have been disinfected may serve as evacuation centers.

Most of these facilities are classrooms in government schools.

Año reminded LGU officials, especially mayors, that they should remain in their areas of jurisdiction during calamities to ensure the immediate delivery of services to the public.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Camilo Cascolan said he has already alerted police commanders on the deployment of additional men and preparation for the upcoming typhoon.

Typhoon Rolly is forecast to make landfall over Aurora-Quezon area by Sunday evening or early Monday morning, November 1 or 2, 2020. (SunStar Philippines)