The southwest monsoon or "habagat'' enhanced by Super Typhoon (ST) ‘Egay’ and severe tropical storm (STS) "Falcon" inundated several parts of Central Luzon and Metro Manila in knee-deep to waist-deep waters, causing the mass evacuation of residents.
The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Association (PAG-ASA) announced heavy rainfall, ranging from yellow to red categories, in Central Luzon.
Emergency responders and Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) units in Central Luzon provinces were using rescue boats to secure residents in highly submerged areas, with the assistance from the military. Trucks and cranes were seen being used to transport some citizens through the knee-deep to waist-deep floods.
Tarlac PIO / MANILA BULLETIN
Bataan
On Saturday, July 29, Bataan Governor Jose Enrique Garcia placed the province under a state of calamity through Provincial Resolution No. 321.
Garcia cited severe flooding in low-lying areas and significant damage to infrastructure and agricultural crops such as wheat and corn as reasons for the declaration.
Damage to the province’s agricultural and fisheries sectors was estimated at P22,381,052, the mayor noted.
The most affected areas were Dinalupihan, Morong, Bagac, Samal, and Limay.
The Bataan PDRRMO reported 639 families or 2,357 individuals were housed in the province's evacuation sites. The provincial government has provided around 527 food packs, 475 hygiene kits, and 55 mats for the evacuees since Friday, July 28.
As of July 31, 121,297 families or 598,590 individuals have been affected by the storm, said the PDRRMO.
On July 30, the Orani, Brgy. Mabatang, and Gabon, Abucay sections of the Junction Layac-Balanga-Mariveles Port Road were reportedly flooded.
Mayor Baby Manlapaz, Vice Mayor Charo Sy-Alvarado Mendoza, Richie Mendoza, and councilors brave waist-deep flood waters to distribute water buckets to thousands of flood victims in Barangay San Juan, Hagonoy, Bulacan on Sunday, July 30, 2023. (Photo courtesy of Marcel Bayan)
Bulacan
Bulacan Governor Daniel R. Fernando said that 15 municipalities and two cities in the province are still affected by flooding.
A total of 5,000 families or 17,000 individuals temporarily sought refuge in different evacuation sites as of Monday, July 30.
He said the heavy flooding in the province is due to the continuous heavy rains which started last week and worsened after excess waters from the Ipo and Bustos Dams were gradually released to prevent overflow.
The local government also sent aid to the evacuated families including relief goods, hot meals, food and other necessities while trucks were deployed to provide free rides to stranded passengers.
The governor ordered the Provincial Agriculture's Office, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSDWDO), and Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) to gather data on the damages caused by the inclement weather and the needs of people, particularly on agriculture, livelihood, and infrastructure, for the proposed declaration of state of calamity in some areas.
On July 29 and 30, the municipalities of Calumpit and Hagonoy in the province were placed under a state of calamity after more than 40 villages were submerged in floodwaters which caused damage to agriculture, infrastructure, and livelihood of the residents.
Calumpit Mayor Lem Faustino and Hagonoy Mayor Baby Manlapaz provided relief packs, food, and medicines to the affected families.
The Bulacan government directed the concerned provincial departments to continue monitoring the situation in different barangays, as well as the rivers in and outside the province.
Fernando also declared the suspension of work and classes in all levels, both public and private schools, on Monday, July 31.
Pampanga PIO / MANILA BULLETIN
Pampanga
The municipal government units of Sto. Tomas, Macabebe, San Simon, and San Luis in Pampanga have all declared a state of calamity on July 29 and 30.
Officials of Macabebe approved Resolution No. 188 which states that its agri-fisheries industry has suffered losses amounting to P119,320,448. Some 24, 561 families or 79,200 individuals were affected in the municipality, with 211 families or 612 individuals now housed in evacuation centers.
The major thoroughfares in the municipality were also flooded and impassable to almost all types of vehicles, the municipal government added.
In Sto. Tomas, through Resolution No. 146-2023, 2,587 families or 9,339 individuals have fled their homes amid the floods. As per Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO), damage to the agricultural sector was placed at P2,500,000, and P4,750,000 to the fisheries sector.
According to Resolution No. 23-046 of the government of San Simon, “almost all families within the municipality whose homes are under rainwater clamor for government assistance to monetarily ease their mental anguish and agony caused by the massive floodings.”
Meanwhile, in San Luis, “15 out of 17 barangays are submerged in flood water due to non-stop heavy rains and the overflowing of Pampanga River,” as indicated in Resolution No. 66. The declaration will allow the government to “extend relief assistance to affected families and repair damages.”
The Pampanga DRRMO said on July 31 that 227 barangays are flooded affecting around 512,000 individuals.
Pampanga Gov. Dennis Pineda distributed around 18,339 food packs to residents in Candaba (2,700), City of San Fernando (1,840), San Simon (3,000), Sto. Tomas (2,000), Minalin (3,000), and San Luis (3,000) throughout the weekend.
Zambales PIO / MANILA BULLETIN
Tarlac, Zambales
Several areas in the provinces of Tarlac and Zambales also experienced flooding.
The La Paz-Victoria, Sta. Rosa - Tarlac, and Paniqui-Camiling-Wawa Roads in Tarlac, as well as the Olongapo-Bugallon Road were flooded, according to the DPWH Region III. Ankle-high floods on the National Road in Sitio Lalec Brgy. Sindol in San Felipe, Zambales have also been reported.
Zambales Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. and Tarlac Gov. Susan A. Yap personally inspected and handed out relief packs to families affected in their respective areas of responsibility.
Metro Manila
The Quezon, Caloocan, Malabon, and Valenzuela City governments listed over 1,000 families who are now sheltered in the cities’ evacuation centers on Sunday and Monday, July 31.
A total of 297 families or 1,073 individuals were evacuated in Valenzuela as of Monday while over 1,322 families were sheltered in Quezon City’s evacuation sites. A total of 185 families from Barangay 183, Caloocan City and 10 families in Barangay Longos, Malabon City were also evacuated. Meanwhile, the Navotas City government said that no families were evacuated while flood waters immediately subsided after the heavy downpour.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, Valenzuela City Mayor Weslie “Wes” Gatchalian, Malabon City Mayor Jeannie Sandoval, and Caloocan City Mayor Dale Gonzalo “Along” Malapitan all visited the evacuation sites to check the situation of the residents and provide aid such as food packs, hot meals, medical assistance, and other necessities. They also assured that help will be delivered to the evacuees until it is safe for them to return to their homes.
In Valenzuela and Malabon, several roads in different villages reportedly experienced up to 14 inches of flood on Saturday, July 29, and Sunday, July 30, where some became impassable to different types of vehicles.
The ocal government units made sure that all 22 pumping stations in the city were opened to help control the flood. The Valenzuela LGU opened the floodgates in Pangkera, Barangay Coloong, Tullahan Barangay Marulas, as well as the Pinalagad floodgates. All the 69 pumping stations in Navotas are operational.
Malapitan also led the inspection of flood-prone areas on Sunday including Dona Aurora in Barangay 177, Phase 6 in Barangay 178, Crispulo Street and Quirino Highway in Barangay 180.
Navotas City Mayor John Reynald “John Rey” Tiangco ordered canal declogging in different parts of the city to prevent flooding.
Metro Manila mayors met with their local disaster risk reduction and management and emergency teams and ordered the deployment of rescue equipment and vehicles to provide help to residents, including stranded passengers amid the inclement weather.
Juan Carlo De Vela / MANILA BULLETIN
Meanwhile, gutter-deep floods covered low-lying areas along Recto and Taft Avenues in Manila while tire-deep floods were reported on Taft corner NBI and Padre Faura on July 27. The Manila DRRMO also reported knee-deep floods on Kalaw Avenue on July 28 and 29.
A roving operation in flooded areas was conducted to determine the areas affected by the storm. Some trucks were also deployed by the city government to accommodate stranded passengers. The city government assured the public that evacuation sites are on standby.
According to Atty. Princess Abante, Manila communications head, the local government is closely monitoring the situation. On July 29, 230 families were evacuated from Barangay 649 in the Baseco area and were sheltered at the Baseco evacuation center. They returned to their houses the following day. Emergency equipment and food kits for residents living in low-lying and hazard-risk areas have also been prepared.
The DRRMO also removed fallen trees in Barangay 684, Paco, Manila, and Barangay 557, Sampaloc on July 30. No injuries to residents or major damage to property have been reported.
The water level of Marikina River reached 16 meters, triggering the second alarm of the early warning system amid both 'Egay' on July 27, and the monsoon rains enhanced by 'Falcon' on July 29.
No flooded areas were reported despite the high water levels. Only 12 families took shelter in evacuation sites during the onslaught of Egay. However, almost 300 families from Barangays Nangka, Malanday, and Tumana preemptively evacuated on July 29 to 30.
In Taguig City, 23 families were evacuated after a landslide occurred in C5 Road Barangay Western Bicutan on July 27. On July 30, 180 families were preemptively evacuated due to continuous heavy rains.
MMC
Metro Manila Council (MMC) President and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora stressed the importance of coordination between the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and local government units in mitigating the adverse effects of the weather phenomenon.
"We are in close coordination with the MMDA and pagdating syempre sa flood control eh malaking tulong po ang MMDA satin. Sakto magkakaroon tayo ng pulong ng Metro Manila Council sa Martes at hihingi din ako ng assessment sa mga kapwa natin mayors sa kung ano nga ba yung naging lagay ng kanilang mga lungsod nitong mga nakaraang araw at kung ano man yung mga kailangan ng mga LGUs natin sa Metro Manila ay icocoordinate natin sa ating MMDA Chairman Atty. Don Artes (We are in close coordination with the MMDA who plays an integral part in our flood control initiatives. On Tuesday, the Metro Manila Council will convene where I will ask for an assessment from our fellow mayors on the situation of their cities in the past few days and determine what they need for it to be coordinated to MMDA Chairman Atty. Don Artes)," Zamora said in a radio interview.
Persistent rains
According to PAG-ASA's 11 a.m. bulletin on July 31, Zambales and Bataan are under the yellow rainfall warning, with possible flooding. Light to moderate rains are expected over Bulacan. Light to moderate with occasional heavy rains may persist in Tarlac and Pampanga.
Metro Manila is currently not included in any of the heavy rainfall warning categories, but cities may still experience the enhanced monsoon rains and winds.
STS Falcon is forecast to "further intensify over the next one or two days, reaching its peak intensity on Aug. 1 or 2," said PAGASA. **(**With reports from Khriscielle Yalao, Aaron Dioquino, Diann Calucin, Freddie Velez, Patrick Garcia, Richielyn Canlas, and Jonathan Hicap)