Metro Manila on red alert; free mall parking offered

Metro Manila on Saturday braced itself for the worst as Typhoon “Uwan” (international name: Fung-wong) was projected to move 245 kilometers east-southeast of Baler, Aurora, by Sunday afternoon.

The Metro Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council placed the capital, home to about 15 million, on “red alert” to ensure quick, full-scale response. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) has placed the metropolis under Signal No. 2.

Billboards on Edsa have been rolled up in anticipation of strong winds. Robinsons Malls announced free overnight parking, Wi-Fi and the use of charging stations in all its establishments in Luzon for Saturday. SM Malls also said it was offering free overnight parking the entire weekend in all its malls in Luzon.

Several local governments such as Caloocan, Las Piñas, Valenzuela and Pateros already suspended classes on Monday.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority also activated its emergency operations center in its Pasig City headquarters to monitor flooding, among others. Its 136 hotline would be available for emergency requests.

Response protocols

The red alert status indicates “the highest level of readiness,” where all personnel, from rescuers to city officials, are on the ground or on the line to respond and report for duty.

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Under this status, operations shift to 24-hour monitoring and response, emergency plans fully activated, evacuation centers opened.

It also activates full-scale response protocols, including 24-hour flood control at pumping stations, real-time CCTV monitoring, and immediate deployment of rubber boats, wrecker cranes, payloaders, and buses for evacuation, among others.

Pagasa said Uwan may rapidly intensify and reach supertyphoon level on Saturday night or on Sunday.