Lawmaker distributes relief packs

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — Third District Representative Aurelio Gonzales Jr. distributed relief packs to 2,000 flood victims here as part of his commitment to help disaster victims housed in various evacuation centers.

Gonzales visited evacuation centers in Sindalan Elementary School, Calulut Elementary School and Baliti Elementary School.

The lawmaker also checked on the conditions of the flood victims from the villages of San Pedro, Sta. Lucia and San Nicolas housed in the said evacuation centers.

The distribution was part of the commitment of Gonzales of P1-million worth of relief goods to flood victims in different parts of the district following an aerial inspection.

Gonzales said the amount would be followed up with additional relief assistance as consolidated and verified reports of flood victims from different government agencies come in.

“The flooding that we have experienced is really a wake-up call to for all of us to do our part in environmental protection. It is also a call for us to study our government programs on flood control and prevention,” Gonzales said.

Gonzales said the revival of the Pampanga River Control System (PRCS) is more than ever necessary for flood prevention in the district. The PRCS aims to appropriate a maintenance fund devoted to the upkeep and upgrading of the river systems.

The lawmaker added that the PRCS must also include development plans on a long-term basis on how to create new channels and fully upgrade the river system facilities like ripraps, concrete slope protection and the like.

“The revival of the PRCS is something that we can do after we have addressed the current needs of the people in evacuation centers,” Gonzales said.