Evacuations, relief efforts intensified
TACLOBAN CITY — Mandatory evacuations were carried out across Eastern Visayas on Monday, November 3, 2025, as local authorities and disaster response teams braced for the impact of Tropical Storm “Tino,” which threatened to bring destructive winds, heavy rainfall, and storm surges to the region.
In Tacloban City, Mayor Alfred Romualdez urged residents, especially those in coastal and low-lying areas, to prepare evacuation plans early and heed safety advisories.
“Let the government do its job to monitor and respond to those who are in need of help,” Romualdez said in a press briefing. He assured residents that the city government would work around the clock to safeguard public welfare.
The mayor had earlier issued Executive Order No. 2025-10-65, suspending classes and work in both public and private institutions from November 3 to 4, and enforcing a temporary liquor ban to maintain order during the storm response.
In Leyte, Governor Carlos Jericho ‘Icot’ Petilla placed the entire province under red alert status and likewise suspended work and classes until Tuesday, November 4, as a precautionary measure.
As of November 2, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the region had prepositioned 121,331 family food packs, 20,664 non-food items, 18,473 ready-to-eat food boxes, and 4,950 bottled water supplies across strategic locations in the region for rapid deployment.
“These are readily available for augmentation to requesting local government units,” the agency said in a statement.
The Police Regional Office 8 (PRO-8), led by Brigadier General Jason Capoy, also heightened its disaster readiness and mobilized personnel for possible rescue and relief operations.
“Let us all be careful. We must get through the night ready to deploy for search and rescue operations if needed. Make sure all communication lines are charged and open,” Capoy reminded police personnel in a statement.
He added that more than 1,800 members of the Reactionary Standby Support Force (RSSF) were on alert, with Women and Children Protection Desk officers deployed to evacuation centers to ensure the safety of evacuees.
The PRO-8 reported 2,757 evacuation centers across the region, with 108 currently occupied by 4,060 families—or 14,423 individuals—mostly from Southern Leyte, Biliran, and Ormoc City. Real-time monitoring of water levels, flood-prone areas, and road conditions continued, with all major roads and bridges still passable as of late evening.
In Guiuan, Eastern Samar—expected to bear the brunt of the storm—local authorities enforced mandatory evacuations and designated public buildings such as Sirungan han Guiuan, the Eastern Samar State University (ESSU)-Guiuan Campus, and St. Mary’s Academy classrooms as evacuation sites.
“The time to evacuate is now, while weather conditions are still favorable and safe for movement,” the Guiuan local government said in an advisory ahead of Tino’s expected landfall late Monday or early Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard reported three cancelled ship trips in San Ricardo and Liloan ports, leaving 489 passengers and 176 vehicles stranded in ports across Southern Leyte and Northern Samar.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 8 readied more than 800 field personnel and over 100 heavy equipment units to assist in road-clearing and rescue operations once the storm passes.
In Maasin City, the Diocese of Maasin opened the doors of Saint Joseph College to accommodate evacuees from nearby barangays. Monsignor Oscar Cadayona, the school president and vicar-general, said church institutions stand ready to assist displaced families.
The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Southern Leyte Chapter also mobilized volunteers and equipment and joined a virtual pre-disaster conference with its national headquarters and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC).
Meanwhile, the 14th Infantry Battalion under Lieutenant Colonel Esmeraldo Sumalinog placed its disaster response units on standby in coordination with local MDRRMOs and police stations in Southern Leyte and Leyte.
“Our Avenger troops are fully ready to assist our local counterparts. We are working closely with LGUs to make sure communities are safe and informed,” Sumalinog said, emphasizing that the welfare of residents remains their top priority.
RONALD O. REYES
