PNoy: Solutions up for flooding in Luzon towns

President Benigno Aquino III Thursday assured flood victims in Tarlac province that the national government is looking for solutions to mitigate flooding in the province and other parts of Central Luzon, the hardest-hit region in Luzon by two typhoons the past few days.

Aquino told local officials and residents in La Paz town that the Department of Public Works and Highways is presently reviewing the designs of infrastructures not only in the province but in the whole region to find if there are any defects that caused perennial flooding, especially to low-lying areas.

”Matapos ang pag-aaral nila.Iaayos po natin para kungd i man mawala ay maibsan ang problema.Kalikasan po yan, may hangganan ang ating magagawa, pero pipilitin po natin na maibsan ang pamiminsala,” he said.

The President also assured the affected residents of La Paz town at the municipal plazuela: “Hindi ko kayo pababayaan. Mag-antabaylangpo kayo at alagaanninyonginyongkalusugan.”

Aquino was welcomed by some local officials led by Gov. Victor Yap and La Paz Mayor Michael Manuel. The local officials briefed the President on the extent of damage wrought by typhoons "Pedring" and "Quiel" on the province.

The President inspected the Chico River where there is heavy siltation that said to be the main cause of flooding in this town.

After the inspection, he proceeded to the evacuation center and talked to the evacuees, whose numbers have swelled to around 31,000 families.

Enroute to the plazuela, the President also passed through health facilities (rural unit II and La Paz Community Hospital) which were rendered non-serviceable due to severe flooding.
La Paz is a catch-basin of runoff water coming from major dams in Northern Luzon such as the San Roque Dam in Pangasinan.

From Tarlac, the President proceeded to Pampanga to visit the site of the ongoing Pinatubo Hazard Urgent Mitigation Project Phase 3-B (PHUMP 3-B) in Barangay San Felipe which is also located in the City of San Fernando.

PHUMP 3-B is a flood control project that serves as a line of defense for the City of San Fernando and nearby towns against flooding.

The President was also scheduled to visit the evacuation center within the United Pulp and Paper Company compound in Barangay Iba Este in Calumpit town in Bulacan province.
He will also inspect the flooded areas near the Calumpit municipal hall aboard a 6x6 truck and then be motored to the Hiyas Convention Center in Malolos City to attend the meeting of the Regional Development Council 3.