MMDA on red alert for Typhoon Ruby

The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is now on red alert in preparation for Typhoon Ruby's onslaught, with the agency's 600-strong personnel working at its headquarters in Makati City.

MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino said the agency has also divided the capital into four quadrants to facilitate a more efficient response to emergencies that may arise when Ruby affects the region Sunday night:

• North Quadrant, consisting of Caloocan City, Valenzuela City, Navotas City, Quezon City, San Juan City and Mandaluyong City;
• South Quadrant, consisting of Las Piñas City, Parañaque City, Muntinlupa City, Taguig City and the municipality of Pateros;
• East Quadrant, consisting of Marikina City and Pasig City; and
• West Quadrant, consisting of Manila and Malabon City.

"We adopted the four-quadrant scheme so our deployment of forces to the area of emergency will be more efficient and we won't end up sending double the search or rescue units to a single area when it's not needed," Tolentino said in a phone interview Sunday afternoon.

The MMDA is in close coordination with both the local government units and the joint task force of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in preparation for the typhoon, he said.

As of Sunday afternoon, MMDA personnel has nearly completed the removal of tarpaulins along EDSA and the positioning of sandbags along Roxas Boulevard.

Tolentino has also asked Metro Manila mayors to remove Christmas lanterns and tarpaulins in their localities to avoid accidents.

All pumping stations across NCR have also been fully manned for prompt response to flooding.

According to Tolentino, at least 300 rescue volunteers are on standby at the MMDA headquarters to attend to any emergency.

Asked until when the MMDA will be on heightened alert for the typhoon, Tolentino said: "We won't sleep until Wednesday."

Metro Manila has been placed under Signal No. 1 Saturday evening as Ruby headed for Masbate. Its brunt is expected to be felt in the capital Sunday night, with heavy to intense rains affecting the area.

Typhoon Ruby is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) Wednesday morning. — BM, GMA News