Some 227 families from Bangar town in La Union who evacuated on Tuesday ahead of the onslaught of Tropical Storm Kristine have received food and non-food assistance.

The La Union Provincial Information Office told the Philippine News Agency Wednesday that the food items included six kilos of rice, eight pieces of canned goods, and six pieces of instant coffee while non-food items included toothbrushes, soap, laundry powder, shampoo, and towels.

The evacuees are staying at the municipal covered court and the municipal evacuation center.

The province is under red alert status since Tuesday due to Kristine.

Provincial Information Officer Rowan Joshua Dimaculangan, in an interview, said the province’s 819 evacuation centers as well as relief goods and hygiene kits and medicines have been prepared.

“We are advising those living in the coastal areas or in basin areas prone to flooding to do preemptive evacuation when needed and to not wait for worst possible scenario,” he said in Filipino.

The La Union Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) said all its personnel are now on standby for possible mobilization while all equipment has been checked and is ready for deployment.

“(There is) Continuous incident monitoring in all 20 component local government units in the province,” it added.

Classes at all levels have been suspended on Wednesday due to expected inclement weather. (PNA)