No damage to properties, casualties amid ‘Gener’

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Provincial Government reported no serious damage to properties or loss of lives amid the onslaught of Typhoon Gener (international codename: Saola) and accompanying heavy downpour.

General Services Office chief Royce Pring and Environment and Natural Resources Office head Art Punsalan, who have been tasked by Governor Lilia Pineda to assist in monitoring possible flooding in high risk areas in Pampanga, told Sun.Star Pampanga that as of 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, the situation in the province was normal and that various municipal disaster action offices reported of no untoward incidents.

“The governor is on top of the situation and is similarly monitoring every hour on a 24-hour basis the possible flooding situation in low lying areas like in the Fourth District towns of San Simon, Apalit, Masantol and Macabebe which are sea level and tide influenced. So far, based on reports from the Pampanga River Basin monitoring stations, the water level is not critical and alarming,” Pring and Punsalan chorused.

However, they said they were instructed by Governor Pineda to put the necessary interventions and measures in place even if the 10-feet river overflow allowance is far from being breached and the flow of water towards Manila Bay is smooth.

“We have distributed more than 50,000 sacks for sandbagging operations, especially in barangays near creeks and waterways for possible erosion of embankments. Rescue equipment and supplies are on standby. We can assure the safety of our cabalens in flood-prone areas as the Capitol is fully prepared for any disaster. We also urge people in these areas to help in desilting canals and water tributaries to avert flash floods,” the officials said.

Over at the Provincial Information Office, Joel Mapiles said riverside communities in Candaba like San Agustin, Lanang and Pescadores among others, have been under 10 feet of water since yesterday morning: “But the Municipal Disaster Action Center there as activated by Mayor Jerry Pelayo said it was normal and people in Candaba are very much prepared as it happens every year. Possible flooding within 24 hours has been reported by the Pampanga River Basin and other allied rivers monitoring stations in Arayat, Sta. Ana, San Luis, Mexico, Sasmuan and Lubao. But as of this time [Wednesday afternoon], the situation in these areas is normal.”

The three officials are however urging residents in the flood-prone areas to “stay alert and vigilant” at all times.