CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga (PNA) – Continuous rains from typhoon “Egay” and the enhanced southwest monsoon or “habagat” have affected 341,242 families or 1,195,866 persons in Region 3 (Central Luzon).
The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC)-3 on Monday, July 31, said 8,862 families or 32,404 individuals are still staying in various evacuation centers in the region.
Some 18 houses were totally damaged while 334 were partially destroyed.
A total of 13 roads in the region, eight in Pampanga, three in Bulacan, and one each in Zambales and Tarlac, are still not passable to light vehicles.
A total of 438 areas in the region were flooded by the moderate to heavy rains in the past days.
Estimated damage to agricultural lands and fisheries and aquatic resources in the region was initially pegged at P454,050,478 and P141,592,616, respectively, for a total of over P596 million.
Ten local government units (LGUs) in the region have so far declared a state of calamity due to the extent of damage caused by Egay and the southwest monsoon.
These are the province of Bataan, five municipalities in Pampanga – San Simon, Macabebe, San Luis, Minalin, and Santo Tomas – and the towns of Pulilan, Calumpit, Hagonoy, and Paombong in Bulacan.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development and local government units have provided P31.31-million worth of assistance to affected individuals and families.
Due to massive floods caused by the southwest monsoon rains, some LGUs in the region canceled work and classes on Monday.
Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando suspended classes on all levels in public and private schools as well as work in government and private offices.
In Olongapo City, Mayor Rolen Paulino Jr. also suspended classes on all levels.
Other LGUs that also suspended classes were the towns of Macabebe, San Simon, Candaba, and Masantol, all in Pampanga and the cities of Malolos and Baliwag and the towns of Balagtas and Guiguinto, all in Bulacan.