Riverbank collapses, 12 houses destroyed

CANDABA - At least 12 houses were totally destroyed when the riverbank along barangays Gulap and Buas in this town collapsed on Monday.

More families in these villages are also facing danger as their houses are situated on top of the riverbanks, or an inch away from the Pampanga River.

Mayor Rene Maglanque has instructed the affected families to evacuate, particularly those whose houses are located 15 meters from the riverbank.

He said he has already given financial assistance to affected families whose houses were destroyed and swallowed by the river.

The looming erosion at the riverbank is also threatening the barangay hall cum health center in Barangay Buas, as its foundation is situated within the river slope.

However, Maglanque said the main problem is that there is no available lot within the barangay for the proposed transfer of this government facility.

The mayor said the municipal government under his watch has already purchased a 6.5-hectare relocation site for those who would be affected by the erosion; however it is not within Barangay Buas.

The mayor said the proposed lot is located along Pansol Road in Barangay Pasig which could be a better and safer place for the affected Candabenios.

“We have already bought a parcel of land for the resettlement of the affected families which is very timely as the Pampanga River is swallowing a bigger portion of the riverbank particularly in the Poblacion side of the river,” Maglanque said.

Maglanque is also appealing to the provincial government and national government through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and National Housing Authority (NHA) to assist the municipal government in the realization of its proposed resettlement center for the affected families.