Flood swamps 82 Bulacan villages
Published Aug 13, 2018 11:18 am
By Freddie Velez and Ellalyn de Vera Ruiz
CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan – At least 82 barangays in 11 towns and one city in Bulacan are now submerged in flood following three days of heavy rains spawned by the southwest monsoon or habagat that was enhanced by tropical storm “Karding.”
TOTAL COLLAPSE – A local resident looks at the ruins of what used to be the Mangas-Esperanza bridge in Alfonso, Cavite, which collapsed Saturday night due to erosion caused by monsoon rains that inundated parts of Metro Manila and nearby areas (Ali Vicoy/ Manila Bulletin)
The heavy rains also forced the opening the gates of Ipo Dam and Bustos Dam to discharge excess water.
Weather condition is expected to improve, particularly in Metro Manila, as Karding is no longer expected to enhance the habagat after it made landfall in China Monday morning.
As of 6 a.m. Monday, the latest situation report from the Bulacan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) showed that 15 flooded areas in the City of Meycauayan were Barangays Bancal, Bayugo, Banga, Hulo, and Gasak (1 foot); Zamora, Saluysoy, and Longos (1 to 2 ft); Langka, Calvario, Lawa, and Poblacion (2feet);Tugatog Soriente and Caingin Villa Samanta (3ft); MalhacanLower Northern Hills (4ft).
In Calimpit town, the 15 flooded barangays areSapang Bayan, Meysulao, and San Miguel (1 to 4 ft);Gatbuca, Frances, Calizon, Northville 9 Iba Este (1 ft);Gugo, San Jose, and PioCruzcosa (1 to 2 ft); Sta. Lucia, Bulusan, Iba O' Este, Palimbang, and Poblacion (1 ft).
In Hagonoy town, submerged under 2 to 3 feet of water due to heavy rains and high tide are Barangays Abulalas,Mercado, Palapat, SagradaFamilia, San Agustin, San Isidro, San Jose, San Juan, San Miguel, San Nicolas, San Pablo, San Pascual, San Perdo, San Roque, San Sebastian, Santa Cruz, Santa Elena, Santa Monica,Sto Niño,formerly Poblacion, Sto.Rosario, and Tampok.
Villages under 1 to 3 feet of flood in Bocaueare Bambang, Lolomboy, Bunlo, Biniang 1st, Biniang 2nd, Antipona, Taal, and Poblacion.
In Guiguinto, the flooded barangays are Ilang-ilang, Poblacion, Panginay, and Tuktukan, while barangays inBaliuagunder water are Sto.Cristo, Laca, Barangay VDF, Alido, and Concepcion.
In Marilao town, the flooded barangays are Poblacion 1, Poblacion 2, Nagbalon, and Ibayo.
Barangays Panginay, Wawa, and San Juan in Balagtasare submerged under 4 to 6 feet of flood.
In Bulakan town, barangays Perez, Taliptip, and Matungao remain flooded.
Also flooded are BarangayBanga 2nd in Plaridel, San Pedro in Bustos, and San Isidro 1 in Paombong.
Disaster officials also reported that 1,059 families or 2,557 individuals were evacuated to 17 evacuation centers in Bulacan.
5 dams release water
As of 5 a.m. Monday, water level of IpoDam breached the spilling level 101 meters above sea level (masl) after it reached 101.82 masl. This prompted dam operators to open Radial Gates 1 and B to discharge a total of 133.30 cubic meters per second at 6 a.m.
Ambuklao and Binga dams in Benguet continue releasing excess water, with eight and six flood gates opened, respectively. Both dams have been releasing water since Sunday.
The water discharge from Ambuklao and Binga dams flow into San Roque Dam in San Manuel, Pangasinan, with four of its gates still opened on Monday. Water released from San Roque Dam flows into the Agno River prompting authorities to warn residents living near the river to be on alert for possible flooding.
San Roque Dam’s water level has significantly increased from 280.62 masl last Sunday to 284.58 on Monday, breaching its spilling level of 280 masl.
Magat Dam in Isabela has also been releasing water, with one of its gates still open since last week. However, there is no imminent threat of flooding in nearby communities.
At the Angat Dam, water level was recorded at 201.80 meters as of 5 a.m. Monday, less than 9 meters from its spilling level.
5 dead in Metro Manila
Meanwhile, the massive flooding over the weekend claimed the lives of five people in Metro Manila and forced more than 60,000 people to flee their homes.
Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar, director of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), said three people were reported dead in Quezon City and one each in Marikina and Manila.
He said there are 6,218 families or 27,743 persons who remain at the 45 evacuation centers set up in various parts of Metro Manila, most of the evacuees are in Pasig and Marikina areas with a total of 5,232 families or 34,384 individuals.
Undersecretary Ricardo B. Jalad, the executive director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and concurrent administrator of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), Jalad identified two of the fatalities as Dioscoro Camacho, 36, from Block 25, Lot 22, Phase 2, Balubad Settlement, Barangay Nangka, Marikina City; and Gloria Borlongan Mendoza, 61, from Capitol Hills, Barangay Old Balara, Quezon City. Both died due to drowning.
Jalad said that based on reports received by the NDRRMC, a total of 248,080 families or 1,057,767 persons were affected in 713 barangays in Regions 1, 3, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon), CAR (Cordillera Autonomous Region), and Metro Manila.
Of the number, 13,724 families or 59,682 persons are being served inside and outside evacuation centers.
New storm
As this developed, another tropical storm with international name ‘Lee-pi’ east of the Philippines is not expected to further enhance the southwest monsoon. It was estimated at 1,895 kilometers (km) east-northeast of extreme Northern Luzon before Monday noon.
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) weather specialist Ezra Bulquerin said Lee-pi may not enter the country’s area of responsibility and will not directly affect any part of it. Lee-pi is currently moving northwest at 20 kilometers per hour.
He also pointed out that a new low-pressure area (LPA) at 925 km east of Basco, Batanes, so far has a slim chance of developing into a cyclone.
It will only have a slight influence on the southwest monsoon circulation, he added.
While Karding and the new tropical storm may not enhance the habagat, Metro Manila, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Tarlac, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, Oriental Mindoro and Occidental Mindoro will continue to experience light to moderate to at times heavy monsoon rains today.
The rest of Luzon will have occasional monsoon rains, while Visayas and Mindanao will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers due to localized thunderstorms.
PAGASA warned the public, especially those living near river channels, and in low-lying and mountainous areas to be on alert for possible flash flood or landslide, as the soil is already saturated after several days of continuous rains.
By Wednesday, Bulquerin said weather condition in Metro Manila will gradually improve but monsoon rains will still prevail over Northern and Central Luzon until Friday. (With reports from Aaron Recuenco, Francis Wakefield, and Liezle Iñigo)
TOTAL COLLAPSE – A local resident looks at the ruins of what used to be the Mangas-Esperanza bridge in Alfonso, Cavite, which collapsed Saturday night due to erosion caused by monsoon rains that inundated parts of Metro Manila and nearby areas (Ali Vicoy/ Manila Bulletin)
The heavy rains also forced the opening the gates of Ipo Dam and Bustos Dam to discharge excess water.
Weather condition is expected to improve, particularly in Metro Manila, as Karding is no longer expected to enhance the habagat after it made landfall in China Monday morning.
As of 6 a.m. Monday, the latest situation report from the Bulacan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) showed that 15 flooded areas in the City of Meycauayan were Barangays Bancal, Bayugo, Banga, Hulo, and Gasak (1 foot); Zamora, Saluysoy, and Longos (1 to 2 ft); Langka, Calvario, Lawa, and Poblacion (2feet);Tugatog Soriente and Caingin Villa Samanta (3ft); MalhacanLower Northern Hills (4ft).
In Calimpit town, the 15 flooded barangays areSapang Bayan, Meysulao, and San Miguel (1 to 4 ft);Gatbuca, Frances, Calizon, Northville 9 Iba Este (1 ft);Gugo, San Jose, and PioCruzcosa (1 to 2 ft); Sta. Lucia, Bulusan, Iba O' Este, Palimbang, and Poblacion (1 ft).
In Hagonoy town, submerged under 2 to 3 feet of water due to heavy rains and high tide are Barangays Abulalas,Mercado, Palapat, SagradaFamilia, San Agustin, San Isidro, San Jose, San Juan, San Miguel, San Nicolas, San Pablo, San Pascual, San Perdo, San Roque, San Sebastian, Santa Cruz, Santa Elena, Santa Monica,Sto Niño,formerly Poblacion, Sto.Rosario, and Tampok.
Villages under 1 to 3 feet of flood in Bocaueare Bambang, Lolomboy, Bunlo, Biniang 1st, Biniang 2nd, Antipona, Taal, and Poblacion.
In Guiguinto, the flooded barangays are Ilang-ilang, Poblacion, Panginay, and Tuktukan, while barangays inBaliuagunder water are Sto.Cristo, Laca, Barangay VDF, Alido, and Concepcion.
In Marilao town, the flooded barangays are Poblacion 1, Poblacion 2, Nagbalon, and Ibayo.
Barangays Panginay, Wawa, and San Juan in Balagtasare submerged under 4 to 6 feet of flood.
In Bulakan town, barangays Perez, Taliptip, and Matungao remain flooded.
Also flooded are BarangayBanga 2nd in Plaridel, San Pedro in Bustos, and San Isidro 1 in Paombong.
Disaster officials also reported that 1,059 families or 2,557 individuals were evacuated to 17 evacuation centers in Bulacan.
5 dams release water
As of 5 a.m. Monday, water level of IpoDam breached the spilling level 101 meters above sea level (masl) after it reached 101.82 masl. This prompted dam operators to open Radial Gates 1 and B to discharge a total of 133.30 cubic meters per second at 6 a.m.
Ambuklao and Binga dams in Benguet continue releasing excess water, with eight and six flood gates opened, respectively. Both dams have been releasing water since Sunday.
The water discharge from Ambuklao and Binga dams flow into San Roque Dam in San Manuel, Pangasinan, with four of its gates still opened on Monday. Water released from San Roque Dam flows into the Agno River prompting authorities to warn residents living near the river to be on alert for possible flooding.
San Roque Dam’s water level has significantly increased from 280.62 masl last Sunday to 284.58 on Monday, breaching its spilling level of 280 masl.
Magat Dam in Isabela has also been releasing water, with one of its gates still open since last week. However, there is no imminent threat of flooding in nearby communities.
At the Angat Dam, water level was recorded at 201.80 meters as of 5 a.m. Monday, less than 9 meters from its spilling level.
5 dead in Metro Manila
Meanwhile, the massive flooding over the weekend claimed the lives of five people in Metro Manila and forced more than 60,000 people to flee their homes.
Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar, director of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), said three people were reported dead in Quezon City and one each in Marikina and Manila.
He said there are 6,218 families or 27,743 persons who remain at the 45 evacuation centers set up in various parts of Metro Manila, most of the evacuees are in Pasig and Marikina areas with a total of 5,232 families or 34,384 individuals.
Undersecretary Ricardo B. Jalad, the executive director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and concurrent administrator of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), Jalad identified two of the fatalities as Dioscoro Camacho, 36, from Block 25, Lot 22, Phase 2, Balubad Settlement, Barangay Nangka, Marikina City; and Gloria Borlongan Mendoza, 61, from Capitol Hills, Barangay Old Balara, Quezon City. Both died due to drowning.
Jalad said that based on reports received by the NDRRMC, a total of 248,080 families or 1,057,767 persons were affected in 713 barangays in Regions 1, 3, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon), CAR (Cordillera Autonomous Region), and Metro Manila.
Of the number, 13,724 families or 59,682 persons are being served inside and outside evacuation centers.
New storm
As this developed, another tropical storm with international name ‘Lee-pi’ east of the Philippines is not expected to further enhance the southwest monsoon. It was estimated at 1,895 kilometers (km) east-northeast of extreme Northern Luzon before Monday noon.
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) weather specialist Ezra Bulquerin said Lee-pi may not enter the country’s area of responsibility and will not directly affect any part of it. Lee-pi is currently moving northwest at 20 kilometers per hour.
He also pointed out that a new low-pressure area (LPA) at 925 km east of Basco, Batanes, so far has a slim chance of developing into a cyclone.
It will only have a slight influence on the southwest monsoon circulation, he added.
While Karding and the new tropical storm may not enhance the habagat, Metro Manila, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Tarlac, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, Oriental Mindoro and Occidental Mindoro will continue to experience light to moderate to at times heavy monsoon rains today.
The rest of Luzon will have occasional monsoon rains, while Visayas and Mindanao will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers due to localized thunderstorms.
PAGASA warned the public, especially those living near river channels, and in low-lying and mountainous areas to be on alert for possible flash flood or landslide, as the soil is already saturated after several days of continuous rains.
By Wednesday, Bulquerin said weather condition in Metro Manila will gradually improve but monsoon rains will still prevail over Northern and Central Luzon until Friday. (With reports from Aaron Recuenco, Francis Wakefield, and Liezle Iñigo)