463 barangays in Central Luzon still flooded

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — Weather improved in Central Luzon yesterday, but typhoons "Reming" and "Seniang" left 734,135 villagers in the region’s 463 barangays still affected by floodwaters that are expected to remain for days.

The Pampanga provincial disaster coordinating council (PDCC) reported that the typhoon death toll has increased, with the drowning of one Rufino Lopez, 43, in Barangay Colgante in Calumpit, Bulacan.

In an update, the Department of Social Welfare and Development said the two typhoons totally destroyed 174 houses and partially damaged 126 others in the region.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) could not monitor lahar flows from the slopes of Mt. Pinatubo because all its lahar flow sensors had been stolen.

In Pampanga, the PDCC said 178 barangays in all 21 towns remained submerged, affecting 96,185 families or 455,126 people.

Motorists have been warned that several major routes remained impassable. The routes include the Mexico spillway road, the Mexico-Magalang road, the Magalang-Concepcion road, the Puliung-Maragul or so-called "Erap bridge" in Angeles City, the Mancantian road, the Sta. Ana-Sto. Domingo-Mexico road, the Mexico-Sta. Ana road, and the Bitas road in Arayat.

The DSWD said 2,414 families or 9,258 people are still housed in evacuation centers. Among the evacuees are villagers whose houses were destroyed by the typhoons.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) cited partial reports that the two howlers destroyed some P37 million worth of bridges and roads. — Ding Cervantes