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Friday, August 10, 2007
Storm damages P50 million worth of crops
By Raymond C. Garcia and Marna H. Dagumboy
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Heavy rains brought about by typhoon Dodong since Wednesday flooded at least 15 towns in Pampanga, affecting 27,241 families, a report said Thursday.
Floodwaters in the towns of Lubao, Masantol, Apalit, San Luis, Minalin, Mexico, Bacolor, Guagua, Macabebe, Sasmuan, Candaba, Sta. Ana, Sta. Rita, Floridablanca and the City of San Fernando were from one to three feet deep as of Thursday afternoon, said Dalsa Hizon, provincial information officer.
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According to Hizon, Pampanga Governor Eddie Panlilio is assessing the state of the province and is consolidating data with the Provincial Disaster and Coordinating Council (PDCC), which he earlier convened.
Panlilio said that based on their assessment, province is not as badly affected as they thought. Also, they are not yet declaring Pampanga under a state of calamity because they're not done with their assessment of the situation.
Hizon said the PDCC, through Panlilio's initiative, distributed relief goods to flood victims while other rescuers moved marooned residents to higher grounds.
Other relief goods, Hizon said, are stockpiled at the PDCC and awaiting to be transported to other areas affected by floods.
There about 1,000 sacks of rice and 2,000 cases of assorted canned goods at the PDCC, according to Luchie Gutierrez, provincial social welfare officer.
A total of 233 barangays all over the province were flooded as of Thursday afternoon due to heavy rains, with 21,355 families affected. Only a few have been evacuated.
In Candaba town, meanwhile, P50 million worth of crops were destroyed as the heavy downpour continued to batter Northern Luzon.
Candaba Municipal Chief of Staff Leonardo Manalo said the huge water that flooded portions of the town came from Bulacan after a breach at the main dike in the Maasim River.
The Pampanga River, according to Manalo, also overflowed.
"Water coming from Bulacan will surely flow down Candaba since the town is known to be the catch basin," Manalo said.
He also said there were 22 barangays in the town that were also hit by floodwaters, including Sto. Cristo, Dalayap, Bahay Pari, Barit, Tinajero, Pulung Gubat, Visal Sto. Cristo, Visal Sto. Niño, Visal San Pablo, Pangclara, Pulung Palasan, Paligui, Mangga, Tagulud, Lourdes, Mandili, Mapaniqui, Barangka, Magumbali, Salapungan and Dulung Ilug.
Manalo said the whole town is expected to be under water until Friday.
"This is the first time that Candaba experienced big floods," said Manalo.
Manalo said Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo instructed the municipal disaster coordinating council to be on a 24-hour flood monitoring.
"Local officials expect that tonight the whole of Candaba will be submerged in floodwaters. Also, Pansol Road, which connects Candaba to Sta. Ana, is not passable to light vehicles," he said.
In Sta. Rita, water from the town's river spilled into surrounding areas.
As of 7 p.m. Wednesday, the waters of Sapang Balen overflowed, causing local officials to put sandbags on the two bridges connecting the business district and the town center.
The two bridges are impassable to all types of vehicles. However, a small portion of the first bridge was opened for "emergency" purposes only.
According to Sta. Rita Municipal Engineer Arturo Calilung, the Municipal Government disaster team is monitoring vital routes and flood areas in the town.
"We had to destroy a portion of the railing of the second bridge to allow the smooth flow of water and allow our dredging equipment to better move freely along the bridge," Calilung said.
The two bridges are the main access routes connecting the northeast barangays of the town with the western barangays, including exit roads leading to Guagua and Porac.
The municipal offices of Sta. Rita were also closed on Thursday as floodwaters entered the main section of the Municipal Hall. The town plaza and the parish church, along with a couple of schools and houses, were under knee-deep waters in the town center.
The barangays of San Agustin, Agustin, and San Vicente in the town were still under water as of Thursday afternoon. (Sun.Star Pampanga/With reports from BB, IOF)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Davao. (August 10, 2007 issue)
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