Monsoon death toll in Pampanga rises to 16

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The death toll in the province has increased to 16 as 17 municipalities and one city remain flooded due to the heavy downpour brought by the recent southwest monsoon.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) identified the casualties as Angel Ignacio Ocampo, 6, of Barangay Alauli, Masantol; Tracy Nunag Estrella, 11, of Sto. Tomas, Lubao; Stephanie Ballon Marquez, 3, of San Agustin, Candaba; Darrel Macaspac Flores, 9, of Apalit, Floridablanca; Renato Sibal Fan, 30, from Marcos Village Mabalacat City; Jayvy Lingat Cunanan, 20, of Quebiawan, City of San Fernando (CSFP ); Joey Camposanto Tolentino, 33, of Baruya, Lubao;
Michael Bryan Francisco Gatdula, 12, of Sto. Niño CSFP; Lloyd Navarro, 30, of San Pedro, CSFP; Jeffrey Mercado, 17, from Pio, Porac; Eller Hipolito Terrado, 38, of San Nicolas, Arayat; and Renato Poris Padilla, 32, of Sucat, Parañaque.

PDRRMC chief Engr. Lulu Alingcastre, in her report, said four other casualties recovered from Barangays of San Vicente and Moras Dela Paz in Sto. Tomas remain unidentified.

As of this posting, the number of flood-stricken barangays in the province has reduced to 226.

Meanwhile, the City Government of San Fernando, the Provincial Government, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (PamCham) met the other day at the Heroes Hall here to draft immediate plans of actions to resolve the waterways problem affecting the province.

Among the recommendations crafted were: immediate channeling of water from Gugu Creek down to Labuan River; closure of the two breaches at the San Fernando–Sto. Tomas–Minalin tail dike; rehabilitation of spillway 1 and 3 located near the transverse dike; rechanneling of the Pasig-Potrero River from Maliwalu upstream; and raising the height of the San Fernando–Sto. Tomas–Minalin tail dike. (Herbert P. Mapiles)