Metro Manila braces for Typhoon Ambo

Several local government units in Metro Manila have begun bracing for the effects of Typhoon Ambo currently battering several provinces in the Visayas.

According to Ivan Mayrina's Thursday report on "24 Oras," most of the billboards along EDSA were taken off in preparation for the typhoon.

In Quezon City, rescue gears were being readied for deployment to flood-prone barangsy.

The city has also placed its disaster action team on yellow alert, which may be further raised to ensure that responders are prepared.

City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office chief Mike Marasigan assured that they will be observing social distancing measures in evacuation centers amid the coronavirus disease 2019 threat.

"We have to maintain social distancing. Andyan pa rin po 'yung ating pag-susuot ng mga PPEs, 'yung mask din po natin, no, basic," Marasigan said.

"And we [will] make sure that our evacuation center will be equipped with partition tents para hindi po sila magdikit-dikit sa evacuation center," he added.

Barangay San Nicolas and Barangay Ugong in Pasig have also removed branches of trees that may fall on bicycle lanes.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) general manager Jojo Garcia said they will operate in full force to monitor the effects of the typhoon.

"May mga tao tayo sa ground, nag-lilinis. And then, ang ating mga public stations naman naka-ready yan, may tao tayo diyan, ano? Kumbaga 'yung workforce naman namin kahit skeletal, nakabantay tayo diyan," Garcia said. —Joahna Lei Casilao/LDF, GMA News