THE municipality of Candaba in Pampanga has been placed under a state of calamity following the devastating effects of Typhoon Ompong (Mangkhut).
The declaration, through Resolution 60, Series of 2018, was approved by the Municipal Council on Monday, September 17, as per recommendation of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
As of Tuesday noon, 18 of the total 33 barangays of Candaba were still submerged in floodwaters, with depth of up to eight feet due to combined accumulated rainwater and the overflowing of the Pampanga River.
Flooded were portions of Barangay San Agustin (one to eight feet), Vizal San Pablo (two to three feet), Mapaniqui (one to 2.5 feet), Lanang (two to 5.5 feet), Bambang (one to 3.5 feet), Gulap (three to four feet), Sto. Rosario (2.5 to 3.5 feet), Mandasig (three to four feet), Pansinao (4.5 to 6.5 feet), Buas (two to 3.5 feet), Pescadores (3.5 to 5.5 feet), Mandili (3.5 to 4.5 feet), Paralaya (3.5 to 5.5 feet), and Tagulod (one to four feet).
The flooding was still expected to rise, especially in villages along the riverside, as the Pampanga River in the portion of Candaba continues to overflow and is 1.29 meters above its critical level.
The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported that at least 11,179 families or 47,807 individuals were affected by the severe flooding. Thirteen families or 53 individuals were temporarily transferred to the Mayor’s Action Center in Barangay Mandasig, while others preferred to stay in their houses or other safe places.
Some of the town’s thoroughfares, including the Pasig Cut-Off Channel, portion of Candaba-Baliuag Road, Anyatum Road in Barangay Mapaniqui going to Barangay San Ildefonso in Bulacan, and Candaba-San Miguel Road (Dukma) are still not passable to all types of vehicles due to deep flooding.
The Municipal Engineering Office and Municipal Agricultural Office has yet to release the total amount of damages incurred by Candaba during the onslaught of Typhoon Ompong.