MANILA, Sept. 20 -- The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has raised its alert status from "blue" to "red" to provide immediate emergency response as "Nando" has intensified into a typhoon over the Philippine Sea.

In an advisory released Saturday, the NDRRMC said it issued Memorandum 245, categorizing the emergency condition under "red alert."

Red alert is the highest status of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center (NDRRMOC), activated to address an ongoing or imminent emergency. It ensures full staffing of response agencies and immediate interagency coordination.

It provides response agency staffing at the NDRRMOC and allows immediate interagency coordination.

Under this ...