Tacloban Activates Disaster Response During Emotional Anniversary
As Eastern Visayas prepares for the approaching Super Typhoon Uwan, volunteers in Tacloban City worked tirelessly on Saturday, November 8, 2025, to pack essential relief supplies. This emergency preparation comes during the city's emotionally charged 12th-year commemoration of Super Typhoon Yolanda, which devastated the same region in 2013.
Coordinated Relief Efforts Underway
The office of Leyte First District Representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and Tingog Partylist initiated the repacking of food items and other critical supplies. This strategic prepositioning of relief goods aims to ensure quick access and efficient distribution to communities expected to be affected by the incoming weather disturbance across the Eastern Visayas region.
In an urgent statement, Romualdez called for unity and vigilance among residents: "I call on all our fellow citizens to remain alert and unite to ensure zero casualties. Be prepared and coordinate with agencies and local government for proper information and immediate action."
The emergency food packages contain essential items including rice, coffee, noodles, canned goods, cereal drinks, and biscuits to sustain affected families during the potential emergency.
Weather Alerts and Government Response
As of Saturday, the state weather agency Pagasa had placed Northern Samar and other northern areas of Eastern Samar under Signal No. 2, indicating increasing threat levels. The remaining areas of Samar, Eastern Samar, Biliran, Leyte, and Southern Leyte were under Signal No. 1.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported significant preemptive measures, noting that 228,201 affected families from 82 local government units across Eastern Samar, Samar, Northern Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte, and Biliran have already been recorded. Many of these families have relocated to evacuation centers or are staying with relatives as precautions against the approaching typhoon.
By Sunday, November 9, DSWD's response operations for Super Typhoon Uwan had already distributed substantial aid, including:
- 59,427 family food boxes
- 3,067 ready-to-eat food packs
- 3,524 non-food items
The department also provided cash relief assistance amounting to P10,000 under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program to each family who lost a loved one due to the typhoon.
The total value of assistance delivered to areas requiring resource augmentation has reached P39,823,466.62, with DSWD continuing preparations for Typhoon Uwan's potential impact throughout Eastern Visayas.
