Manila, July 17 -- The National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) on Thursday upgraded its alert status from "blue" to "red" in anticipation of the possible effects of Tropical Depression Crising.

In a Facebook post, the NDRRMC said the "red alert" status became effective at 12 noon.

The alert status means all detailed duty officers from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine National Police are now required to render duty at NDRRMC's operations center at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

Technical staff from the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Service, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Depart...