MANILA, Philippines — The government is on "red alert" in anticipation of the effects of the persistent monsoon rains in parts of the country, including Metro Manila.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the lead agencies in disaster response, are monitoring the situation in areas where heavy rainfall is expected based on the forecast by the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) early Saturday.
In an advisory, Pagasa said that moderate to heavy monsoon rains are expected over Ilocos Sur, Benguet, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Tarlac and Pampanga. while occasional rains are expected in Metro Manila, Ilocos Norte, Abra, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Oriental Mindoro and Occidental Mindoro.
DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said that the department's field offices were ready for possible deployment.
"We remain prepared as we know that the effects of the southwest monsoon continue to persist in parts of Luzon and the Visayas," Dumlao said in Filipino.
The DSWD has more than 3.4 million family food packs prepositioned in warehouses and other strategic locations nationwide, according to its latest disaster response report.
The agency said that its Central Office also has P558.77 million in Quick Response Fund available for immediate disaster response operations.
The NDRRMC went on red alert on Friday.
Meanwhile, 12 local governments units (LGUs) in Metro Manila suspended face-to-face (F2F) classes in both public and private schools on Saturday, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said.
The affected cities are Caloocan, Valenzuela, Manila, Navotas, Marikina, Malabon, Las Piñas, Mandaluyong, Taguig, Pasay, Muntinlupa and San Juan.
Caloocan, Valenzuela, Las Piñas and Marikina suspended face-to-face classes for all levels in public and private schools. Marikina also suspended online classes.
Manila, Navotas, Malabon and Mandaluyong suspended face-to-face classes for all levels and shifted to alternative learning or delivery modes.
Taguig and Pasay shifted to alternative learning modalities, while Muntinlupa suspended face-to-face classes for all levels, including the Alternative Learning System, Early Childhood Education Division and Muntinlupa City Technical Institute.
San Juan also suspended face-to-face classes for all levels and shifted to alternative learning modalities.
The MMDA advised the public to check for updates on class suspensions, and may call its 136 hotline for assistance.
Aside from the monsoon rains, Pagasa is also monitoring two low pressure areas, with one inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) but with a low chance of developing into a tropical cyclone within the next 24 hours.
The other LPA, outside the PAR has a moderate chance of developing into a tropical cyclone and could enter PAR this weekend.
