CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – As floods in Metro Manila continued to ebb, 329 barangays in Central Luzon remained under water as of yesterday.
In partial reports, damages to infrastructure and agriculture in the region was estimated at P1.6 billion.
Mayor Oscar Rodriguez immediately issued a bulletin last Sunday denying reports that lahar from the Pasig-Potrero River was flowing towards this city, amid rumors that caused panic and drove some local folk to flee.
This, even as the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) said typhoon Gener and the ensuing monsoon rains that affected Central Luzon had left a total of 37 dead, including 11 in Pampanga, 10 in Bataan, nine in Bulacan, six in Zambales and one in Olongapo City.
Several roads remained impassable as of yesterday to all types of vehicles, including the Bagac-Mariveles road, Km. 188-000 up to Km.188-500, the Biaan, Banayan and Paysaway bridges in Bataan; the Pulilan-Calumpit road and the road in Calogan, Calumpit in Bulacan; the Candaba-San Miguel, Baliwag-Candaba-Sta. Ana, Sto. Tomas-Minalin and, San Fernando-Lubao and Sasmuan-Lubao roads in Pampanga.
The RDRRMC reports revealed that of the partial P1.6 billion damage to infrastructure and agriculture, the heaviest was sustained by the fisheries sector with an estimated P1 billion damage. Infrastructure damage was placed at P53 million, crops at P431 million and livestock at P11.2 million.
Despite improved weather, brief heavy to moderate rains were observed around noon Sunday in Angeles City, triggering reports of lahar movement on the slopes of Mt. Pinatubo in the west.
The RDRRMC’s latest report said 329 barangays in Central Luzon remained flooded.
The areas include six barangays in Dinalupihan and Hermosa in Bataan, 68 barangays in Bustos, Calumpit, Hagonoy, Marilo, Obando, and San Miguel in Bulacan, and 205 barangays in Apalit, Arayat, Bacolor, Candaba, Guagua, Lubao, Macabebe, Masantol, Minalin, Porac, San Fernando, San Luis, San Simon, Sta. Ana, Sto. Tomas, Sasmuan and Sta. Rita in Pampanga.
Also reported as still flooded were 22 barangays in Paniqui, Camiling, La Paz, Sta. Ignacia and Moncada in Tarlac, and 19 barangays in San Nariciso, Subic, Cabangan, San Felipe, San Marcelino, Botolan and San Antonio in Zambales.
