Metro Manila braces as 'Mina' intensifies, nears landfall

Bracing for heavy rains and strong winds brought by tropical storm "Mina" (international codename: Mitag), Metro Manila officials on Thursday moved to dismantle billboards and riverside stalls, and set evacuation plans for low-lying areas. Radio dzBB reported that in Marikina City, officials convinced some 700 owners of stalls along the Marikina River in Santo Niño village to temporarily dismantle their stalls as "Mina" nears. Marikina officials said the river is likely to overflow due to the heavy rains brought by "Mina," which state weather forecasters said will possibly hit Metro Manila this weekend. In Manila, Mayor Alfredo Lim ordered billboards dismantled along Quezon Boulevard in Quiapo and the Osmeña Highway, as well those along main thoroughfares in Sta. Cruz district. This is to prevent casualties and damages resulting from falling billboards, Lim said. The mayor also ordered the city government to prepare public school buildings as potential evacuation areas in case low-lying areas get flooded. He also ordered authorities to keep watch over low-lying areas, including Isla Puting Bato and Baseco in the Tondo and Binondo districts. Meanwhile, the Department of Education (DepEd) has not ordered a suspension of classes in the metropolis, despite rains and floods hit Metro Manila early Thursday morning. DepEd said it has yet to receive any advice from the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) on whether present conditions warrant the suspension of classes. However, DepEd said it will leave the decision of suspending classes to the principals, superintendents, or mayors. It added parents will have the final say on whether to allow their children to go to school. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said "Mina" further gained strength as it approached landfall in Quezon province instead of Bicol as earlier forecast. "Mina" was estimated to be 630 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes as of 4 a.m., with maximum sustained winds of 115 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 145 kph. The storm was monitored moving west at 15 kph and was forecast to be 300 kms east of Virac, Catanduanes by Friday morning, and 40 kms east-northeast of Virac, Catanduanes by Saturday morning. By Sunday morning it is expected to be in the vicinity of Alabat, Quezon. - GMANews.TV