MALOLOS CITY (PIA) — The Bulacan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (PDRRM) Council has endorsed the ratification of the declaration of State of Calamity by the municipal governments of Calumpit, Guiguinto, Balagtas and Bocaue, and the city government of Meycauayan.
The move is seen to fast-track rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts by utilizing the Quick Response Fund, which is 30 percent of the annual appropriation of a particular local government unit.
Governor Daniel Fernando explained that the provincial government is reserving its province-wide declaration as long as the municipal and city governments are effectively doing their mandate in this time of calamity.
PDRRM Office Head Manuel Lukban Jr. reported that a total of 5,087 families or 13,692 individuals currently seek temporary shelter in 177 evacuation centers due to heavy to intense rains and flooding caused by the Southwest monsoon that is being enhanced by tropical disturbances “Dante” and “Emong.”
Moreover, about 463 families or 1,667 individuals are outside evacuation centers while there are 151,288 families or 503,094 individuals who are also affected but not displaced.
Meanwhile, damage to agriculture in Bulacan has reached P56.6 million while losses in the livestock, poultry and fisheries sectors are currently pegged at P436,000.
On infrastructure, the Provincial Engineering Office reported that the major damage is the bridge that collapsed at the boundary of Doña Remedios Trinidad and San Miguel towns.
For its part, the Department of Public Works and Highways disclosed that three primary road networks are still not passable to vehicular traffic namely the Meycauayan section of the Manila North Road or Mac Arthur Highway, Balagtas-Bulakan Road, and the Calumpit-Hagonoy Road.
Various bridges are also closed to all types of vehicles due to flooding including Bayumbon Bridge in Norzagaray, Banaban II in Angat, and Macaiban Bridge in Santa Maria. (CLJD/SFV, PIA Region 3-Bulacan)
