ANGELES CITY – A freak thunder-storm that hit a limited area at Clark freeport drove tons of raging water currents that eroded structures and trapped 60 residents along the Balibago creek in the nearby tourism area here last Sunday afternoon.
Barangay Balibago chairman Tony Mamac told Punto that some P80 million worth of properties were eroded into the creek which is now as wide as 20 meters from its original width of only 10 feet.
Mamac asked officials of the Systems Plus College along the creek to suspend classes in some of its buildings which are also now under threat of being eroded. He said two classrooms of the school had already collapsed into the creek.
He also advised owners of hotels and other tourism establishments to exercise caution in accepting guests after parts of their properties were also eroded.
“It was unusual. The weather was okay in Angeles but all of a sudden, raging waters swelled in the creek,” said Barangay Balibago chairman Tony Mamac.
Mamac noted that starting last June 19, freak weather in the area of this city has been triggering strong water currents which have been causing serious erosion of the banks of the Balibago creek.
“If no engineering intervention is done, my estimate is that some P500 million worth of properties in the area could literally be eroded,” he said.
The freak thunderstorm last Sunday afternoon was reported in Clark but the heavy volume of rains it dumped flowed into the Balibago creek some three kilometers away.
Mamac said that the creek’s raging waters overflowed and about 60 folk were trapped and rescued by his team.
He said he was slated to meet yesterday with officials of the Clark Development Corp. (CDC), the SM City-Clark, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and affected businessmen in Balibago to tackle the worsening problem at the creek.
Mamac said that the huge volume of waters in the creek seemed to emanate from the area of Clark and SM mall.
“I think the intervention of the national government is needed here. Much is at stake. The city government seems inadequate to act immediately on the problem, and we need not only long-term solution, but also immediate mitigating measures,” he said.
Mamac also said that among those seriously threatened by massive erosion are properties within the posh Diamond subdivision, Marble Inn and Restaurant, Koala Hotel, Swagman Hotel, Mr. Frosty restaurant and scores of apartments and other tourism establishments.
Barangay Balibago chairman Tony Mamac told Punto that some P80 million worth of properties were eroded into the creek which is now as wide as 20 meters from its original width of only 10 feet.
Mamac asked officials of the Systems Plus College along the creek to suspend classes in some of its buildings which are also now under threat of being eroded. He said two classrooms of the school had already collapsed into the creek.
He also advised owners of hotels and other tourism establishments to exercise caution in accepting guests after parts of their properties were also eroded.
“It was unusual. The weather was okay in Angeles but all of a sudden, raging waters swelled in the creek,” said Barangay Balibago chairman Tony Mamac.
Mamac noted that starting last June 19, freak weather in the area of this city has been triggering strong water currents which have been causing serious erosion of the banks of the Balibago creek.
“If no engineering intervention is done, my estimate is that some P500 million worth of properties in the area could literally be eroded,” he said.
The freak thunderstorm last Sunday afternoon was reported in Clark but the heavy volume of rains it dumped flowed into the Balibago creek some three kilometers away.
Mamac said that the creek’s raging waters overflowed and about 60 folk were trapped and rescued by his team.
He said he was slated to meet yesterday with officials of the Clark Development Corp. (CDC), the SM City-Clark, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and affected businessmen in Balibago to tackle the worsening problem at the creek.
Mamac said that the huge volume of waters in the creek seemed to emanate from the area of Clark and SM mall.
“I think the intervention of the national government is needed here. Much is at stake. The city government seems inadequate to act immediately on the problem, and we need not only long-term solution, but also immediate mitigating measures,” he said.
Mamac also said that among those seriously threatened by massive erosion are properties within the posh Diamond subdivision, Marble Inn and Restaurant, Koala Hotel, Swagman Hotel, Mr. Frosty restaurant and scores of apartments and other tourism establishments.
