Lapid bats for state of calamity

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga — Gov. Lito Lapid plans to ask the provincial board to place the entire province under a state of calamity after heavy rainfall dumped by tropical depression "Jolina," left nearly all the 21 towns heavily flooded.

Lapid earlier refused to release cash advances from the P17-million calamity fund until the board has declared a state of calamity.

So far, only three towns — Minalin, Macabebe and Masantol, where at least 50 percent of villages are submerged — are under a state of calamity, according to Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council executive officer Em—manuel Guanlao.

Floodwaters in several barangays in the province have reached three to four feet deep.

Also heavily flooded are the towns of Sto. Tomas, Guagua, Apalit, Sta. Ana, Mexico and San Luis and the western portion of San Fernando City, said Senior Superintendent Reynaldo Berroya, Central Luzon police director.

In Minalin, Guanlao said residents of Barangays San Francisco I and II, Bulac and Sta. Catalina were awaiting evacuation due to possible overflow of the Palaman River.

The Panipuan bridge in Barangay Baliti and roads in Minalin, Magalang and Arayat have been damaged.

The flooding also caused monstrous traffic jam along the MacArthur Highway and Gapan-San Fernando-Olongapo Road.

Provincial officials have placed several motorized bancas and trucks on standby for rescue and relief operations. — Ric Sapnu