The whole province of Bulacan was placed under a State of Calamity due to heavy flooding brought about by typhoon-enhanced monsoon rains.
Governor Daniel R. Fernando ratified Panlalawigang Kapasiyahan Bilang 579-T’2023 on Monday, July 31.
Fernando stressed the need for the declaration of the State of Calamity because of the vast damage the flooding brought to agriculture, livestock, and infrastructure in Bulacan.
Governor Daniel R. Fernando, Vice Gov. Alexis C. Castro, and Sta. Cruz Brgy. Chairman Emmanuel Joson (beside Castro) distribute 1,500 food packs to families in Brgy. Sta. Cruz, Guiguinto, Bulacan affected by heavy flooding. (Photo courtesy of Bulacan PPAO/ MANILA BULLETIN)
“Kailangang kailangan iyan dahil unang una ang ating agricultural damages is almost P80 million, ‘yung livestock and hogs natin ay halos P3 million. Wala pa po diyan ang infra,”(We need that because damage to agriculture is almost P80 million, and to livestock and hogs P3 million. This does not include yet the damage to infrastructure)," the governor said.
According to the resolution authored by Sangguniang Panlalawigan Presiding Officer and Vice Gov. Alexis C. Castro, Typhoon Egay affected 228,648 families from 171 barangays of the province.
The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) noted that 21,367 individuals or 5,631 families evacuated due to flooding in their areas.
Fernando called on the members of the House of Representatives to prioritize the urgent and comprehensive solution to the decades-old problem of flooding in the province during the Technical Working Group Meeting of the House Committee on Public Works and Highways yesterday, July 31.
“Kailangan ito ay mapag-aralan natin at mabigyan ito ng solusyon sa pamamagitan ng isang matindi at maayos na master plan. Sana ay masuportahan ang aming lalawigan regarding sa mga nangyayaring pagbaha po sa amin. Hindi po namin ito kakayanin kung kami lang,” (I hope this will be analyzed and given solution though a master plan. I am asking for support for the province to solve the perennial flooding problem. We can't do this alone)," the governor said.