Despite costly dredgings, P’panga towns flooded anew

GUAGUA, Pampanga — Just a few weeks after President Arroyo visited this town to commend the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for its dredging of the Guagua-Pasac River, residents of 20 barangays here found themselves dealing with rising floodwaters in the aftermath of typhoon "Harurot."

Loida Samonte, of the municipal disaster coordinating council, said floodwaters are about a few inches to two feet deep. Flooding in the town proper may reach one foot.

But Samonte reported no flood-related casualties or infrastructure damage.

The entire province experienced a power outage for hours starting noon last Tuesday. Electricity was restored five to seven hours later in the cities of Angeles and San Fernando, and the following morning in 19 municipalities.

Also flooded were the City of San Fernando and the towns of Macabebe, Masantol, Candaba, Sto. Tomas and Mexico, according to the provincial disaster coordinating council.

Schools and offices all over the province remained closed yesterday because of heavy rains.

Meanwhile, Evelyn Manalo, regional information officer of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, said 265 flood-stricken families in Cabanatuan City and seven other families in Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija have sought refuge in evacuation centers.

After days of heavy rains last month, the President visited this town and inspected the DPWH’s dredging project in the Guagua-Pasac River, a major outlet of floodwaters into the Manila Bay. — Ding Cervantes