President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. continues to monitor the weather conditions in several parts of the country affected by Typhoon Inday, a Palace official said on Thursday.

As of 3 pm Thursday, the center of the eye of Typhoon "Inday" was estimated at 940 km East of Northern Luzon with maximum sustained winds of 175 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 215 km/h, the weather bureau, PAGASA, said.

It is moving west-northwestward at 20 km/h. The Southwest monsoon is affecting Palawan, Visayas, and Mindanao.

According to Palace press officer, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has already asked shopping malls to temporarily open their parking spaces for overnight parking in case the weather worsens.

SM, Robinsons, Ayala and Megaworld Corporation have agreed to the MMDA's request and will begin opening their parking spaces today until the storm passes

The Department of Public Works and Highways, led by Secretary Vince Dizon, has already conducted cleaning of canals and other waterways in several parts of Metro Manila.

“While Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna has ordered the activation of all disaster response units in the regions in preparation for severe weather. The secretary has also ordered the monitoring of protected areas, forest lands, rivers and coastal zones that could be affected by the storm,” Castro told reporters in a briefing.

To ensure communication lines, the Department of Information and Communications Technology continues to monitor telco facilities while their emergency communications equipment is also ready, with its command center open 24/7.

Like other agencies, the Department of Health said it is also prepared for inclement weather, and advised residents to avoid the risk of leptospirosis due to rain and flooding caused by Typhoon Inday.

“Currently, there are more than four million family food packs on standby in the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) warehouses nationwide, more than two million of which are ready in Luzon for the storm. The DSWD, led by Secretary Rex Gatchalian also has a budget of more than P644 million to be used for disaster preparedness,” Castro stated.

“Amid the government's preparations, President Marcos Jr. is still reminding all agencies not to be complacent and to monitor the progress of Typhoon Inday,” according to Castro.