MANILA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has urged Filipinos to demonstrate unity and discipline as government agencies mount a full-scale response to Typhoon “Uwan” (international name: Fung-wong), which continues to batter Northern Luzon with destructive winds and torrential rains.
In a nationwide appeal, Marcos said level-headedness and cooperation among communities would make disaster operations more efficient, warning that “complacency has no room” during critical hours of the storm.
“Patuloy nating binabantayan ang pagtindi ng Bagyong Uwan,” the President said. “Naka-full alert ang lahat ng ahensya ng pamahalaan at agad kumilos upang matiyak ang kaligtasan ng ating mga kababayan.”
Marcos reminded residents in high-risk areas to prioritize safety over property and to heed the instructions of local authorities.
“Sumunod sa mga abiso ng inyong LGU at agad lumikas kung kayo ay nakatira sa delikadong lugar. Ihanda ang inyong mga pangunahing pangangailangan at manatiling nakatutok sa mga opisyal na anunsyo,” he advised.
The Chief Executive emphasized that the government’s coordinated efforts can only succeed with public cooperation. “Unity is key to everyone’s safety,” he said, underscoring that preparedness and composure remain the best defenses against the storm’s impact.
As of Sunday, the eye of Typhoon Uwan was located over the coastal waters of Pandan, Catanduanes, packing maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 230 kph. The storm, moving west-northwest at 30 kph, had typhoon-force winds extending up to 800 kilometers from its center — enough to affect most of Luzon.
After crossing Northern Luzon’s mountain ranges, the system is expected to weaken slightly but remain a typhoon as it exits through Lingayen Gulf by Monday. By Tuesday, it will likely turn northward toward the Taiwan Strait before making landfall over western Taiwan by Thursday, where it is forecast to weaken rapidly.
Marcos assured the public that national and local agencies are “on full alert,” with prepositioned assets, rescue teams, and relief supplies ready for deployment in affected areas./PN
