Monsoon claims 5 lives in Pampanga

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The death toll in Pampanga due to the southwest monsoon rose to five, as major river systems and tributaries here spilled over to the towns last Tuesday.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) identified the casualties from drowning as Angel Ignacio Ocampo, 6, of Barangay Alauli, in Masantol; Tracy Nunag Estrella, 11, of Barangay Sto. Tomas, Lubao; Stephanie Ballon Marquez, 3, of San Agustin, Candaba; Darel Flores, 9, from Barangay Apalit in Floridablanca town; and Renato Fan, 30, of Marcos Village, Mabalacat City.

PDRRMC chief Engineer Lulu Alingcastre, in her report, also said the flood-affected barangays from the 19 municipalities and two cities are already 331.

Some 81,053 families or 482,253 individuals were affected by floodwaters. Of these, about 2,500 families or 9,373 individuals are being served in various evacuation centers established by the concerned local government units (LGUs) and Provincial Government.

The affected municipalities and cities are City of San Fernando, Mabalacat City, Magalang, Guagua, Lubao, Floridablanca, Porac, Sasmuan, Sta. Rita, Arayat, Bacolor, Mexico, Sta. Ana, Apalit,Candaba, Macabebe, Masantol, Minalin, San Simon and Sto. Tomas.

As this developed, at least five action centers were activated by the Provincial Government to respond immediately to the needs of the people who were displaced due to floodwaters.

Governor Lilia Pineda also instructed the PDRRMC, in close coordination with the LGUs, Philippine National Police (PNP) and Philippine Army (PA) to implement forced evacuation in the municipalities of Sto. Tomas, Minalin, Macabebe Masantol and Apalit.

Pineda assured the Kapampangans that they are monitoring the situation on a 24/7 basis to provide the needed augmentation in affected municipalities and cities.