Mayor mulls declaring state of calamity in Candaba villages

CANDABA Mayor Danilo Baylon is mulling placing some of the town's villages under a state of calamity due to heavy flooding that continues to threaten thousands of residents in the area.

As of Monday noon, July 23, Baylon noted that 14 of the total 33 barangays in the town were submerged in up to waist-deep of floodwaters due to sustained heavy rains and overflowing of the Pampanga River. The flooding has affected thousands of Candabeños residing in the area.

Among the flooded villages are those situated in the Poblacion area, namely, San Agustin, Tagulod, Pescadores, Paralaya, Pasig, Pansinao Mandasig, Lanang, Gulap and Cauayang Bugtong.

"We have been going around the town this morning to check on the situation. The flooding is still manageable based on our assessment but a lot of Candabeños are already affected and need immediate assistance," Baylon said.

Several access roads, including the Paralaya Road along Dukma Bridge, and San Agustin-Bahay Pare, were also closed to all types of vehicles due to deep excavations and floodwaters.

Baylon said the local government, along with other private companies in the town, have provided service trucks to serve as "libreng sakay," giving free rides to stranded commuters in the area.

Pampanga Provincial Public Information Office head Joel Mapiles, a resident of Barangay San Agustin in this town, also raised his concern over the possible collapse of the Pampanga River bank slope protection in Barangay Pasig.

In his Facebook post, Mapiles noted that the slope protection, whose construction is still ongoing, already shows signs of erosion and sustained heavy rains in the coming days may cause its total collapse and may bury houses in its vicinity.

According to Baylon, the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council is closely monitoring the situation in the area and will immediately implement forced evacuation if needed.

Should the situation become worse, Baylon said he will immediately recommend to the Municipal Council the declaration of a state of calamity in the Poblacion area to access the calamity funds and provide all assistance needed by affected residents.

"We are still assessing the situation but most probably, we will declare a state of calamity on the Poblacion area anytime soon to help the affected residents," he said.

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