MANILA, Philippines--The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority has placed about 700 personnel on standby for emergency response as it anticipates the onslaught of Typhoon Santi (international codename: Mirinae) in the metropolis.

MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando said the alert teams are equipped with heavy equipment and tools for clearing, rescue, relief and evacuation, and would be pre-positioned in Makati, Timog, C-5, Ortigas Avenue, and other strategic areas.

"Starting 4 a.m. Saturday, our emergency personnel will be placed on a 24/7 alert. They are properly equipped for any kind of emergencies," he said.

Metrobase, the MMDA's traffic and emergency monitoring center, will be manned by additional personnel to receive emergency assistance calls and assess flood-prone areas during the typhoon.

Fernando urged the public to call Metrobase at 136 to report vehicle smashups, road obstructions, flooding and other emergencies.

To enable workers to removing all kinds of road blockage, Fernando said MMDA workers will be furnished chainsaws, flood lights, generators, fire extinguishers and hand saws.

"The MMDA's workforce, with their heavy equipment in tow, is very much capable to remove uprooted trees, fallen billboards, mud and garbage strewn on the roads, and unclog drainage systems in just a matter of time to ease traffic and prevent heavy flooding," he said.

Disaster alert advisories have also been issued to local government units so they could create preemptive measures to prevent possible losses to lives and property.

Fernando said local government units with flood-prone areas should undertake preemptive evacuation of their residents to safer ground in case massive flooding occurs.

To update the public on the current situation, MMDA radio 1206 will also broadcast news bulletins every hour.