NDRRMC on red alert as flooding expected to continue in NCR, nearby areas

Residents wash chairs next to a submerged vehicle after flashfloods brought by continuous monsoon rains in Marikina, Metro Manila, August 12, 2018. REUTERS/Erik De Castro

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Sunday went on red alert as floods affected parts of Metro Manila and surrounding areas.

A red alert status means that all NDRRMC personnel must be on duty 24/7 to respond to calamities.

In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB on Sunday evening, NDRRMC spokesperson Edgar Posadas said that no casualties from the floods have been reported yet.

"Wala pa po naman tayong naitatala sa ngayon na any casualties... I hope it stays that way," he said.

He added that evacuation centers remain open in several areas: 

• Antipolo, Rizal
• Cainta, Rizal
• Malabon City
• City of Manila
• Marikina City
• Noveleta, Cavite
• San Mateo, Rizal
• Rodriguez, Rizal
• Quezon City, and
• Taytay, Rizal

"Mas mabuti ho siguro na doon muna tayo sa safe na lugar at saka nalang tayo bumalik 'pag medyo nawala na ho 'yung pag-ulan at medyo umaraw na po," said Posadas.

He added that sufficient assistance will be made available to evacuees, and that the concerned agencies are implementing proper protocol to avoid casualties.

"Manatili po tayong naka-alerto at makinig po sa kinauukulan kung sabihan po tayo na kailangan nating mag-preemptively evacuate, sumunod na po tayo," he added.

At least seven areas may continue to experience flooding due to the heavy rains brought about by the Southwest Monsoon, PAGASA said in its Rainfall Warning issued at 6:00 p.m.:

• Metro Manila
• Bataan
• Bulacan
• Cavite
• Laguna
• Pampanga
• Southern Zambales

PAGASA also warned that "flooding is threatening" in Rizal province, while light to moderate with occasional heavy rains may affect Batangas, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, the rest of Quezon, and Zambales within the next three hours.

"Itong Habagat po natin, pinalakas po ng bagyo na nasa labas ng [Philippine Area of Responsibility] na si Karding. 'Yung bagyo na 'yan, 'yan ang nagpapa-enhance ng Habagat," Samuel Duran, senior weather forecaster of PAGASA, said in an interview of GMA Super Radyo dzBB.

"Ngayong gabi hanggang bukas, ine-expect natin na patuloy parin 'yung pag-ulan lalong lalo na sa ka-Maynilaan," he explained.

More than 600 passengers have been reported stranded in ports in the Bicol and Southern Tagalog regions, while classes for Monday have been suspended in the whole of Metro Manila as well as in several nearby provinces.

Several malls have waived overnight parking for customers in response to the flooding.

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, meanwhile, called on parishes to open their gates to those affected by the floods. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM, GMA News