BAGUIO CITY — Although Typhoon Paeng is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Saturday, a total of 49 families from Barangay Ucab in Itogon town in Benguet have been preemptively evacuated to the “tent city” in La Trinidad, Benguet.
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) – Cordillera Director Janet Armas said as of Friday afternoon, 49 families have taken refuge at the tent city at the Wangal Sports Complex for safety.
For several days, the municipal government of Itogon and the police have been going around, knocking on the residences, to inform them of the preemptive and forced evacuation in preparation for “Paeng.”
Armas said the DSWD in the region is still looking for other government facilities and properties that can be used as evacuation centers or where the tents can be put up.
She said the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s dormitory was identified as another evacuation center.
DSWD-Cordillera has received 150 tents from the department’s central office.
Armas said her office had requested for 1,000 tents, but was assured of an initial 500, which are expected to come within the week.
As of 3 a.m. Friday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said “Paeng” is slowly moving northwest while maintaining its strength. (Pamela Mariz Geminiano/PNA)
