AS PART of its disaster preparedness efforts, the local government of San Simon has started purchasing food supplies intended for the expected series of relief operations during the rainy season. Mayor Abundio Punsalan Jr., who led the inspection of the newly-delivered food supplies Thursday afternoon, August 29, the local government allocated some P1.6 million for the procurement of the supplies. "As early as today, we have already purchased 200 sacks of rice and several boxes of groceries to ensure that we will have enough supply to distribute to our constituents during relief operations," he said. As of Friday, August 30, Punsalan said three barangays, namely, Sta. Monica, Sto. Niño and Dela Paz, are flooded as a result of recent heavy downpour. "They will be the first to receive the relief packs by next week after we finish repacking and the rest of the supplies will be stocked so that we will have everything prepared when a calamity strikes us," he said. Aside from the relief operation, the local chief executive said they have also started clearing the waterways to prevent clogging of floodwaters in times of rains. He also said that he tapped the private sector, including the smelting plants and poultry farms along Quezon Road, to construct drainage systems along the area to ensure the fast flow of water. "San Simon is known to be among the flood-prone municipalities in Pampanga and we cannot do anything but prepare to minimize its negative effects and the local government is doing everything it can to be ready," he said.