Palace orders AFP to activate Disaster Response Task Force

Malacañang on Saturday afternoon said it has ordered the activation of the Disaster Response Task Force due to continuous rains caused by the enhanced southwest monsoon.

Office of the Special Assistant head Secretary Christopher "Bong" Go said the Armed Forces of the Philippines has been ordered to activate the task force and get regular updates on flooded areas from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and the status of the Marikina River.

In a radio dzBB interview, Marikina City Mayor Marcelino Teodoro said that they have raised Alert Level 3 at the Marikina River.

Teodoro said that as of 3 p.m., water level at the Marikina River was 17.5 meters. He said the river's water level may continue to rise as they expect water from upstream rivers to flow down to the city's main tributary.

The mayor said residents in Barangays Nangka and Tumana have started evacuating.

Earlier, the La Mesa Dam management raised the red alert status.

La Mesa plant manager Teddy Angeles said water elevation at the dam as of noon has reached 79.62 meters, just 53 centimeters below the overflow level.

Angeles said they have recommended the evacuation of residents in areas that will be affected by the La Mesa Dam's overflow.

Communities along the Tullahan River in Quezon City and the Camanava area have been alerted against possible flooding.

Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista had said that some residents along the Tullahan River have been evacuated on Friday night. —ALG, GMA News