Rains flood second district towns, destroy crops

STA. RITA — Torrential rains brought about by the southwest monsoon flooded most barangays here particularly along Guagua, Lubao, Sasmuan, Floridablanca and several other villages in the mountain town of Porac.

In Sta. Rita town, most of the ten barangays have been flooded early Tuesday morning. Officials have stared sandbagging operations in different portions of the Sapang Balen dike to protect the town from further flooding.

Hectares of rice paddies in Barangay Diladila, Sta. Monica and San Basilio are also under floodwater.

In Porac town, Barangay Pulong Santol’s road networks have been flooded by overflowing water from canals and streams. Most of the town also experienced ankle-deep flooding.

Meanwhile, the scheduled visit of Vice President Jejomar Binay in the Aeta village of Nabuclod in Floridablanca town was cancelled following poor visibility in Manila caused by the monsoon rains and flooding in neighboring barangays.

Classes in the whole district, at all levels, were suspended following Memorandum Circular No. 33-A, s. 2012 from the Office of the President.

“Upon the recommendation of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and in view of the continuing inclement weather brought about by southwest monsoon, work in all offices in the private sector in the National Capital Region (NCR) and the provinces of Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Bulacan, Laguna, Cavite, and Rizal are hereby suspended today, 07 August 2012,” the statement signed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa said.

The Municipal Government of Lubao, as of Monday, dispatched relief goods to the coastal barangys of Bangcal Sinubli, Bangcal Pugad and Sta. Teresita 2nd. The relief was meant to augment the food supply of families who depended on fishing for their livelihood. (Ian Ocampo Flora)