CALOOCAN CITY, Philippines, Oct. 31 (PIA) -- Metro Manila has taken preventive measures against strong winds and rains as Typhoon Rolly threatens to batter through the Philippines.

The 17 local government units that comprise the National Capital Region have ordered all ongoing construction activities to temporarily stop, as the Metro Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council also directed all area to lock all construction cranes used on high-rise buildings in their areas of responsibility.

The government units have been also directed to coordinate with billboard operators to fold up their billboards, in addition to rolling down all tarpaulins and any other similar materials in their areas.

All government staff involved in disaster preparedness and relief work are also directed to be on duty.

Meanwhile, disaster response and rescue equipment have been pre-positioned in flood prone areas in the region. Relief goods are likewise on standby.

Similarly, tree-cutting crews, road-clearing crews have also been placed on alert for potential road obstructions caused by 'Rolly.'

According to the latest bulletin of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), the typhoon will likely pass close to Metro Manila between Sunday evening and Monday morning after its expected landfall over Aurora-Quezon province Sunday.

The severe weather disturbance could bring intense rain in parts of Luzon beginning evening of Oct. 31.

Rolly, said to be the world's strongest tropical cyclone for 2020 so far, maintained its strength early Saturday morning, with maximum sustained winds of 215 kph and gustiness of up to 265 kph. If its maximum sustained winds exceed 220 kph, it would be classified as a super typhoon.

Pagasa, however, said Rolly is not likely to develop into a super typhoon.

According to Raymond Ordinario, weather specialist at Pagasa, as the cyclone is expected to make landfall and hit hard Quezon, Aurora and Bicol region area Sunday evening, or Monday early morning, "it is unlikely to become a super typhoon but we are not completely ruling out the possibility because it continues to intensify." (PIA NCR)