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Saturday, August 18, 2007
Palace hikes funds for flood control in metro
* Floods inundate Pampanga
* Classes suspended in NCR, nearby provinces; work called off in all gov't offices in Metro Manila at 1 p.m. due to heavy monsoon rains
* Pateros under state of calamity due to flood
MANILA -- Malacañang doubled the budget for the flood control program for Metro Manila in 2008, increasing it from P101 million to P256 million to ensure better and more efficient flood-mitigating measures.
In the long term, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo wants to avoid a repeat of last Wednesday's incident where several cities were flooded resulting in heavy traffic that delayed her for her engagements.
Arroyo Watch: Sun.Star blog on President Arroyo
On Friday, classes in all levels were suspended in Metro Manila and nearby provinces and the Palace also put off work in government offices in the National Capital Region (NCR) starting at 1 p.m. due to heavy monsoon rains caused by super typhoon Egay, which is expected to pass near northern Luzon.
The municipal government of Pateros, meanwhile, declared a stare of calamity after most of its towns were inundated by flood.
Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr. told reporters at the San Jose Elementary School in Quezon City that the flood control budget would be included in the annual allocation of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), which now handles the flood control program in the NCR.
Andaya said the flood control program used to be under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-NCR but it was transferred instead to the MMDA to ensure immediate action and better coordination with local government unit (LGU) officials, particularly the Metro Manila mayors.
He said this was reiterated by President Arroyo during her informal meeting with Quezon City officials led by Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr., Representative Vicente "Bingbong" Crisologo, and barangay officials of San Jose, Pag-Ibig sa Nayon, Damar, Maharlika, St. Peter and N. S. Amoranto at the San Jose Elementary School.
Aside from Arroyo, other officials present in the meeting were Andaya, Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral, and MMDA chairman Bayani Fernando.
Arroyo told the barangay and other LGU officials to spearhead the physical cleanup in their areas like the cleaning of esteros and canals.
She said the order covers other LGUs, particularly barangays, throughout the country.
She said such cleanup drives are covered by their own budgets, particularly the internal revenue allotments (IRA).
Arroyo added that the National Government is doing its share of addressing the flood problem through dredging, widening and cleanup of the Pasig River, among others, and that the National Government is also prepared to assist the LGUs, particularly in terms of funding when the need arises.
Andaya said with the 17 percent increase in the LGUs' IRA or from P183.9 billion to P210 billion in 2008, the barangay officials would also have additional funds they could use for their cleanups and other flood mitigating measures.
Arroyo's visit to Barangay San Jose, which is one of the "lowest" parts in Quezon City and considered a catch basin, was marred by heavy rain and flooding of up to the calf in some of the streets and thoroughfares around the school.
The President, who wore a brown and white-colored knee-length dress to the event, donned a fisherman's cap and jacket after the event as she walked through her waiting vehicle after the meeting to return to Malacañang.
The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) has suspended classes in all levels in three more provinces due to the heavy downpour.
NDCC spokesman and Office of Civil Defense (OCD) deputy administrator Anthony Golez said the classes were ordered suspended by the NDCC on the recommendation of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
"Upon recommendation of the Pagasa to the NDCC, classes in all levels are suspended in Bulacan, Tarlac and Pampanga by noon time today (Friday)," said Golez.
On Thursday night, Defense Secretary and concurrent NDCC chairman Gilberto Teodoro announced the suspension of classes on Friday in Zambales, Bataan, Metro Manila, Rizal, Laguna, Cavite, Batangas and Mindoro.
The Palace suspended work in government offices in the NCR from 1 p.m. onwards. The suspension was based on the recommendations of the OCD.
The municipal government of Pateros has declared the town under a state of calamity due to continuous rains that flooded seven of its 10 barangays.
Pateros Mayor Jaime Medina said although most of the flooded streets are still passable to vehicles, residents had a hard time commuting or going about their daily work.
Pateros is known for its duck-raising industry and balut delicacy.
In Pampanga, at least 241 barangays have been submerged in floodwaters as typhoon Egay started taking its toll.
Rabonza said 78,311 families or 372,458 persons have been affected by the flooding caused by the heavy rains.
The flooded barangays are in the towns of Lubao, Arayat, Masantol, Apalit, San Luis, Mabalacat, Magalang, Floridablanca, Manalin, Mexico, Macabebe, Sasmuan, Candaba, Sta Ana, Guagua, Bacoor, Sta. Rita, San Simon, Sto. Tomas, and
San Fernando.
Of the number affected by typhoon Egay, Rabonza said 64,474 families or 325,871 persons in 219 barangays from 15 of the 20 Pampanga towns have already suffered from the recent typhoons Chedeng and Dodong.
Of the families affected by typhoon Egay, Rabonza said that 237 families or 1,017 families are housed in evacuation centers. At least 70 houses were either destroyed or damaged by Egay, he said.
So far, Rabonza said the concerned local government units have already extended at least P1.1 million in assistance to their affected constituents.
In Cagayan Valley region, Rabonza said a small craft from Aparri bound for Calayan island was not permitted to leave. The craft's 70 passengers were housed in a dormitory.
In Southern Tagalog, Rabonza said Philippine Coast Guard Authorities permitted the operation of roll-on, roll-off (RORO) vessels since Thursday.
As of 4 a.m. Friday, Egay was at 270 kilometers southeast of Basco Batanes or 290 kilometers northeast of Aparri, Cagayan. It is forecast to be 190 kilometers north northeast of Basco, Batanes or in Southern Taiwan on Saturday morning and will be at the vicinity of Southern China on Sunday morning. (JMR/VR/AH/Sunnex)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Zamboanga. (August 18, 2007 issue)
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