Metro Manila cities are preparing for the possible onslaught of Typhoon ‘Rolly’ as it continues to intensify ahead of its landfall Sunday.
The local chief executives of Valenzuela and Navotas cities, Mayor Rex Gatchalian and Mayor Toby Tiangco, have instructed all construction activities in their areas to stop.
Aside from the rolling up of billboards and tarpaulins, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte has ordered the prepositioning of the city's search and rescue teams in critical areas, particularly in barangays Apolonio Samson, Tatalon, Sto. Domingo, and Del Monte which are traversing the flood-prone area of G. Araneta Avenue.
In Manila, tents set up for the drive-thru coronavirus disease (COVID-19) serology testing at the Quirino Grandstand were ordered disassembled by Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso as the typhoon is expected to bring strong winds aside from heavy to intense rainfall.
Tents at the Ospital ng Tondo, Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center, Ospital ng Sampaloc, Sta. Ana Hospital, Justice Jose Abad Santos General Hospital and Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center were also dismantled "for the safety of everyone."
But in the covered court of Barangay 128 in Tondo, about 32 partition tents were installed for residents who will be evacuated.
Manila's Disaster and Risk Reducation Management Office is now on "heightened alert" and ready to "deploy rescue boats and outboard motors for possible flash floods or open-water rescue operations," the local government said.
Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto on Saturday (Oct 31) inspected the city's pumping stations while Caloocan Mayor Oca Malapitan met with department heads via Zoom to discuss preparations for the incoming typhoon.
"The local government temporarily removed the Christmas decors as preparation for typhoon Rolly," the Caloocan LGU posted on Facebook.
In Malabon, Mayor Lenlen Oreta ordered his officials to conduct declogging operations in their canals and other waterways as the city is prone to flooding.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said “the eye of ‘Rolly’ will likely pass directly over Quezon-Aurora, entire Central Luzon, “where Metro Manila and Rizal will be closest” between Sunday evening and Monday morning after its expected landfall over Aurora-Quezon province.