(UPDATE) Typhoon Ulysses (international name: Vamco) made landfall in Patnanungan, Quezon late Wednesday, bringing destructive winds and torrential rains to areas inundated by Super Typhoon Rolly (Goni) less than two weeks ago, the weather bureau said.
Ulysses is the third typhoon in as many weeks. About 50,000 people living in the typhoon's path were ordered to leave their homes, said Civil Defense Bicol spokesman Gremil Alexis Naz.
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The Bicol region, which Ulysses will cross as it heads towards Metro Manila, is still reeling from deadly typhoons Quinta (Molave) and Rolly, which killed dozens of people and left thousands of families homeless.
Swaths of the region remain without power and with only limited or no telecommunication services after Rolly -- the most powerful typhoon this year -- toppled power lines, destroyed houses and flooded roads.
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Pre-emptive evacuations of around 400,000 people were credited with saving many lives.
Evacuation efforts on Catanduanes have been complicated this time, however, after Rolly destroyed some of its emergency shelters.
"It's like we are on one percent recovery and then ... Ulysses is coming," Catanduanes Governor Joseph Cua told local broadcaster ABS-CBN.
"I hope that people will never get tired of helping us."
Ulysses' winds could reach a peak intensity of 130-155 kph before it makes landfall, the weather forecaster said.
The typhoon was expected to dump heavy rain in Metro Manila and nearby provinces as it sweeps across the already-sodden country.
The weather service also warned of flooding, landslides and storm surges several meters high along parts of the east coast and in the capital.
The Philippines is hit by an average of 20 storms and typhoons every year, which typically wipe out harvests, homes and infrastructure, keeping millions of people perennially poor.
