Local government units (LGUs) in Central Luzon started on Wednesday the pre-emptive evacuation of residents living in low-lying, flood and landslide-prone areas to ensure their safety for the possible onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses.

Pampanga Governor Dennis Pineda said the local disaster risk reduction and management councils, in partnership with the local officials, have begun to evacuate the residents in the coastal villages that are at risk of flooding.

Pineda said that five permanent evacuation centers have been readied.

“We are ready to mitigate and reduce the damages of Typhoon Ulysses on our people as well as on private and public properties,” he said.

In Nueva Ecija, Governor Aurelio Umali also ordered to pre-emptively evacuate those residents living in low-lying areas, particularly those in the province’s fourth district as a precautionary measure for possible floods due to rains brought about by the weather disturbance.

Umali also ordered the deployment of trucks and heavy equipment in the towns of Bongabon and Carranglan in response to possible clearing operations in case of the occurrence of landslides in those areas.

Local officials in Aurora, particularly in the towns of Dingalan, Dinalungan, Casiguran, and San Luis, also asked the residents in high-risk areas to evacuate due to the threat of strong rains and winds triggered by the typhoon.

Dingalan Mayor Shierwin Taay asked the cooperation of his constituents to ensure safety for the possible onslaught of “Ulysses”.

“Hinihikayat namin kayo na lumikas na. Nakahanda na ang mga designated evacuation centers, maging ang mga ready-to-eat foods ay nakagayak na rin (We encourage you to evacuate. The designated evacuation centers are now prepared, even ready-to-eat foods are ready),” Taay said in his video message.

The three provinces are among the areas in the region that are now under tropical cyclone wind signal no. 3. (PNA)