DINALUPIHAN, Bataan- In a short visit on Friday after Tarlac, Pres. Benigno Aquino III distributed relief goods to 1,000 families in this flood-ravaged town.
“Initial na tulong lamang ito sapagka’t alam kong napakarami ng nasalanta ng baha hindi lamang sa Dinalupihan kundi sa ibang bayan man ng Bataan,” the Chief Executive said.
In Dinalupihan alone, 25,000 families have been affected by the floods that rose up to more than six feet deep.
Latest report from the provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council showed that there are 83,581 families of 387,551 persons worst hit by the floods in 195 barangays in 10 towns and one city in Bataan.
“Pag-aaralang mabuti kung ano ang sanhi ng baha upang mabigyan ng permanenteng solusyon,” the president said.
He said that he has conferred with local officials of provinces affected by heavy floods to dig deeper into the problem.
In the case of Dinalupihan, Aquino said he was informed by Dinalupihan Mayor Joel Payumo that the mouth of rivers in Manila Bay has to be dredged and dikes strengthened.
The President said local officials should sit with officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways to trace the cause or causes of the floods and what actions have to be done.
“Madaling mangako pero ang gusto natin ay ang permanente o pangmatagalang solusyon at hindi ‘yong pabalik-balik na problema,” Aquino said.
Payumo thanked the President for taking time out to visit the town worst-hit by the floods in the province. The mayor said the municipal government has prepared relief goods for 9,000 families.
“Pero, malaki pa ang kakulangan kaya umaapela kami sa iba’t-ibang organisasyon na tulungan ang aming mga kababayan,” Payumo said.
