NDRRMC on red alert for 'Marce'

MANILA -- The state disaster agency has placed it units on red alert status on Wednesday as tropical storm "Marce" brought moderate to heavy rains in Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon.

Benito Ramos, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) executive director, said a red alert status means authorities would be on a "full force" for any possible disaster.

All concerned government agencies must also undertake necessary precautionary measures to guarantee the safety of the public.

The agency has not monitored any casualty or untoward incident due to Marce but reported that 65 passengers bound for Cagayan and Isabela were stranded.

Due to continuous, heavy rain since dawn Wednesday, classes have been suspended in several areas in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

Afternoon classes in both public and private schools from pre-school to high school are suspended in the following areas: Caloocan, Pateros, Marikina, Makati, San Juan, Quezon City, Mandaluyong, and Cainta and Taytay towns in Rizal.

In Malabon, classes in public schools only are suspended while suspensions of classes in private schools are left to the discretion of its officials.

The Polytechnic University of the Philippines in Sta. Mesa, Manila, has also announced suspension of classes in college. While

Classes were also suspended in all levels in Manila and Cavite province.

Meanwhile, in its 11 a.m. report, state weather bureau Pagasa said tropical storm Marce has slightly intensified as it continues to move southeastward slowly. Its center was located 270 kilometers west of Iba, Zambales as of 10 a.m.

Tropical storm Marce carries maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 100 kph.

Moderate to intense rainfall is expected within the 400-kilometer diameter of the tropical storm while enhanced southwest monsoon will continue to bring occasional moderate to heavy rains over Central Luzon, Mimaropa, Calabarzon and Bicol Region.

Pagasa issued a yellow rainfall advisory for Metro Manila as moderate to heavy rainfall was observed over the region for the past two hours and would most likely continue for the next three hours.

The downpour spawned by Marce has flooded several areas along Edsa. In its Twitter account, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority reported gutter-deep floods in P. Tuazon Tunnel and in the southbound lanes of Zamora and Taft Avenue.

Tropical storm Marce is expected to be outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Friday morning. (Emmanuel Louis Bacani/PNA/Sunnex)