In a series of extraordinary scenes, street sweepers and other members of Manila's poorest sectors flocked to Malacanang Palace in search of food, medicine and shelter.

The first arrivals included about 30 people who came to get plastic bags filled with noodles and canned sardines, after losing their homes.

"We just heard it in the news that they are giving relief goods at the palace so we walked for one hour," said street sweeper Rosette Serrano, 31.

Serrano said she lost everything "except my clothes" when her home was submerged in the neck-deep waters that ravaged Manila and its surrounding regions on Saturday.

At least 240 people were killed and nearly two million people affected in the devastating floods. More 370,000 others were forced to seek shelter in evacuation camps.

Arroyo said she wanted to open the palace up to the public as part of her contribution to the national relief effort.

"Evacuees will be given shelter in available areas among the Malacanang buildings and in tents that will be put up in between the buildings," Arroyo said.

"If required, our employees will yield their work stations to provide more space for our displaced countrymen."

As the news of Arroyo's offer spread among Manila's poorest neighbourhoods, hundreds more people converged on the palace gates, while volunteers arrived to pack boxes full of aid donations.

Men and women, many of them in shorts and singlets and bringing along their children, rushed to line up outside the massive black steel gates which were thrown open, despite signs calling on visitors to be decently dressed.

Teresita Batac rushed to the palace with her two-year-old son after hearing the news.

"We are very happy. Even if it's just a plastic bag of food at least we have something. It's a very big help because we lost everything," she said.

However, no one had so far been allowed to remain inside the compound.

"We cannot just allow every evacuee in because of logistical and security problems," Arroyo aide Wilfredo Oca told AFP.

People who lost their homes and want to stay at the palace must first be vetted by aid organisations.

Approved people would then be allowed to put up tents on the palace grounds or stay in the ceremonial Heroes' Hall, Oca said.

Arroyo said she had temporarily moved her office to another section of the compound along the Pasig river, which cuts through Metro Manila.

The palace was built in the early 19th century as the official residence of the Spanish colonial administrator.

It became infamous for the 3,000-plus shoe collection that Imelda Marcos left behind when a 1986 bloodless popular revolt ended the 20-year regime of her husband, Ferdinand Marcos.

Malacanang was stormed by an angry crowed minutes after Marcos and his family were flown out by US helicopters and into exile after a military-backed people power revolt.

Arroyo normally lives at the palace, where she also receives heads of state. It has been a rallying point for protesters, but members of the public are usually kept at a distance by a barrier 500 metres (yards) away from the gate.

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