Heavy rains spawned by the southwest monsoon and the release of excess water from Bustos and Ipo Dams have resulted in damage to infrastructure estimated by the Department of Works and Highways at P19.3 million while partial and unofficial damage to agriculture and fisheries was placed at P19,380,963.11.

At least 102 villages in Bulacan province’s 11 towns and two cities were submerged in floodwaters due to high tide and scattered rains, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) said.

In a report to Governor Daniel R. Fernando, also the chairman of the PDRRMC, Bulacan PDRRM executive officer Liz Mungcal said that the two cities and 11 towns submerged in one to three feet of rampaging floodwaters were Guiguinto, Balagtas, Calumpit, Malolos, Meycauayan, Paombong, Plaridel, Bocaue, Bulacan, Hagonoy, Marilao, Norzagaray, and Obando. She said 515 families or 1,828 individuals have sought shelter in 46 evacuation centers.

The provincial government also announced the suspension of classes in all levels, both private and public, on Monday, July 26, as well as work in government offices except government agencies involved in the delivery of basic and health services, disaster response, and other vital public services.

Mungcal said Bustos Dam opened two of its washout gates after the water level reached 17.33 meters. Dam officials said that a total of 210 cubic meters per second of water were discharged from the Bustos rubber dam. The water level of Ipo Dam has reached its spilling level of 101:00 meters prompting authorities to open Gate 1 and gradually release the excess water.

The water elevation at Angat dam was 187.47 meters, still way below its spilling level of 210 meters.

Fernando, who personally supervised the monitoring of the three big dams and the major rivers, said he has dispatched emergency rescue units equipped with rubber boats and backed-up by paramedic teams and relief workers to the affected areas.