3 LGUs in Pampanga under state of calamity

By Zorayda S. Tecson

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — Three local government units in Pampanga on Wednesday were placed under the state of calamity following the adverse effect of the continuous moderate to heavy rains brought about by southwest monsoon that battered the province the past days.

        The Sangguniang Panglungsod of San Fernando passed a resolution placing the city under a state of calamity due to the onslaught of flood caused by prevailing monsoon rains.

Data from the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) showed that 14 villages in the City of San Fernando are still submerged under floodwaters.

Some roads in the city proper and other parts were likewise flooded, rendering them impassable to light vehicles.

The municipality of Sto. Tomas and Macabebe were also placed under the state of calamity.

Sto. Tomas Mayor John Sambo said the municipal council has passed a resolution placing the town in a state of calamity so that they can use the calamity funds to help their constituents who have been affected by floodings.

He said they will use part of the calamity fund to provide relief assistance to some 1,000 residents who are still staying in the evacuation centers.

At present, almost 100 percent of Sto. Tomas is still under floodwater.

Local officials as well as residents conducted sandbagging operations to avert breach on the 10- kilometer Sto. Tomas portion of the tail dike.

Aside from sandbagging operation, he said they are likewise pumping out water from the tail dike to avoid possible rapture of the segment of the tail dike which might cause massive flooding.

“We are closely monitoring and inspecting the situation of the dike. We are exerting ways to ensure that the tail dike will not be broken and checkgates be secured so that floodwaters will not pass by the town,” he said.

The Sangguning Bayan of Macabebe has also passed a resolution declaring the town under the state of calamity due to massive flooding.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) said that at least 12 barangays in Macabebe remain flooded up to four feet deep. -- Philippine News Agency