60 barangays in CL still under water

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga — A total of 60 villages in four provinces in Central Luzon remain submerged in floodwaters since the onslaught of typhoon “Domeng” last week, followed by rains dumped by the “habagat” or southwest monsoon, disaster officials said yesterday.

The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council 3 (RDRRMC3) said floods ranging from gutter deep to four feet have tormented 37 villages in Pampanga; 14 in Bulacan; five in Bataan; and four in Zambales.

In Barangay San Agustin, Candaba, Pampanga, Mayor Danilo D. Baylon confirmed that the flood was reported to have risen to as high as eight feet. Nine other barangays are still submerged in 2-4 feet of water, he said.

Apart from Candaba, other flooded areas in Pampanga as of yesterday were seven barangays in Macabebe; nine in Masantol; four in San Luis; five in San Simon; and three in Arayat.

In Bulacan, eight villages remain under water in Meycauayan City; three in Bulakan; and one barangay each in Marilao, Balagtas, and San Miguel.

Barangay Almasen in Hermosa, Bataan is also under two-feet-high floodwater and other Barangays in Dinalupihan since Tuesday, the RDRRMC 3 said.

Meanwhile, the Pampanga Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) said that the wall of a resort in Barangay Mancantian in Porac town reportedly collapsed Friday morning and caused about three to four feet of flood waters in the area, affecting 20 houses and displacing some 37 families. The PDRRMO said the affected families were evacuated to Jose Songco Lapid Sports, Porac.

Pampanga Gov. Lilia Pineda has instructed the PDRRMO and Provincial Engineer Office (PEO) to assist residents and do the necessary repairs to include the possible rechanelling of the waterway from the destroyed resorts.