THE prevailing southwest monsoon coupled by high tide had flooded 170 villages all over Pampanga, according to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) with the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist placing damages to rice crops at P19,686,595.

In her August 14 report to Governor Lilia Pineda, PDRRMO chief Angie Blanco said that 25 barangays in Macabebe are flooded from one foot to four feet flood depth in certain areas. Some 10 barangays in Apalit town are also flooded along with 26 barangays in Masantol.

Minalin town has also six barangays in flood water with Barangays Suplad and Maniango experiencing at least five feet deep floodwater draining from highlands and aggravated by the high tide. Moderate to heavy rains on Tuesday have also flooded 12 barangays in San Simon.

Meanwhile, heavy rains and high tide have flooded 14 barangays in Guagua town while only two barangays in Bacolor, Tinajero and Cabetican, were reportedly flooded. Some 26 barangays in Lubao town, along with its coastal barangays, are also currently flooded.

Santo Tomas town has seven flooded barangays as well as San Luis town. The coastal town of Sasmuan still has 12 barangays flooded as of press time. Mabalacat City only reported one flooded barangay along with Santa Rita and Mexico towns. The highland town of Arayat reported three flooded barangays.

Classes in all levels were suspended Wednesday in the entire province due to the flooding and the monsoon rains.

The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office Wednesday said that some 27,585 families, which accounts for 113,420 individuals, are currently affected by the flooding. The PSWDO said that some 417 families have been evacuated to 39 shelters.

Blanco said that the PDRRMO Operations Center at the PEO Compound in Barangay Sindalan in the City of San Fernando has been activated and has prepositioned disaster response equipment and manpower on stand-by.

At present, the PDRRMO is in close monitoring with the 21 disaster response officers of the various local government units of the province.