MANILA, Philippines – The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) has pinpointed 12 barangays in Metro Manila where landslides may occur when Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit) inches closest to Metro Manila.

In a Metro Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MMDRRMC) meeting on Friday, December 5, MGB geologist Kevin Garas identified the following areas:  

1. Tunasan in Muntinlupa City
2. Fortune in Marikina City 
3. Pansol in Quezon City
4. Batasan Hills in Quezon City
5. Loyola Heights in Quezon City
6. Payatas in Quezon City
7. Commonwealth in Quezon City
8. North Fairview in Quezon City
9. La Mesa in Quezon City
10. Bagong Silangan in Quezon City
11. Matandang Balara in Quezon City
12. Holy Spirit in Quezon City

The La Mesa areas in Quezon City are also prone to landslides, but Garas noted they are not typically populated. 

Garas told council members that evacuations in these areas should begin by Sunday, December 7.

“Wag na po natin paabutan na umuulan. After noon hindi pa po safe na bumalik kasi di natin alam how saturated. Possible na post-typhoon magkakaroon ng landslide,” he told the council.

(Let’s not wait until it starts raining to evacuate them. And even after it stops rained, it would not be immediately safe for them to return because we don’t know how saturated the land still is.)

The MGB also identified some 820 flood-prone barangays in Metro Manila, most of which are in the cities of Manila and Quezon.

‘Strongest impact’ from Dec 8-9

The MMDRMC held its last meeting for Typhoon Ruby preparations almost 2 days before the storm is expected to inch closest to the Philippine capital. (READ: Millions evacuate as Ruby bears down on PH)

President Benigno Aquino III had earlier ordered government agencies to beef up preparations for Ruby, adding that he would not accept any “excuses.”

State weather bureau PAGASA and other weather agencies do not expect Ruby to make landfall in Metro Manila, but said moderate to intense rain will be experienced over the megacity by late Monday, December 8.

Other weather agencies, meanwhile, forecast Ruby to directly hit Manila.

Ruby is already within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) and will make landfall over Borongan, Eastern Samar, on Saturday, December 6.

PAGASA said Metro Manila will feel the “strongest impact” of Ruby from December 8-9, when the storm is closest to the Philippine capital.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Francis Tolentino said the metro was at least 70% ready for Ruby as of Friday.

The MMDA will go on “blue alert,” meaning 50% of its resources will be devoted to pre-Ruby preparations, by Saturday.

Earlier Friday, 4 Metro Manila mayors of flood-prone cities met with the MMDA and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in Camp Aguinaldo to discuss preparations for Ruby.

Evacuations, storm surges

In the city of Manila, for instance, Happy Land, Parola, Baseco, the University of Santo Tomas (UST) area and parts of Roxas Boulevard should be “no man’s land” by Monday.

Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno said preemptive evacuations could begin as early as Saturday, December 6, depending on data coming from PAGASA and other weather agencies.

Tolentino reminded LGUs to tap the services of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) to assist in forced evacuation if need be.

All hospitals in Metro Manila are on standby for Ruby, as well as public schools that are expected to serve as evacuation centers.

Tolentino also directed the public works and highways department to begin trimming large trees located along major roads and intersections to avoid the toppling of branches in the middle of the storm.

The MMDA may raise their alert level in the following days, depending on data from PAGASA. – Rappler.com