Tarlac villages threatened by floods anew

TARLAC CITY — Communities along riverbanks in the province’s northern part has come under threat of renewed flooding due to continuous monsoon rains.

The provincial disaster coordinating council (PDCC) has placed western villages in the towns of Gerona, Paniqui and Moncada under a "disaster alert" as floodwaters cascading from the slopes of Mt. Pinatubo and the rest of Central Luzon’s mountain ranges continued to swell the Tarlac River.

This, as reports circulate that the water at Ambuklao Dam in Benguet has swelled to a critical level and that it might be imperative to release excess water.

Water released from the Ambuklao Dam, as well as from the Binga Dam, also in Benguet, normally flows into Pangasinan’s waterways. However, the Tarlac River and its tributaries exit into Pangasinan’s river channels.

Retired Brig. Gen. Virgilio Florendo, PDCC executive officer, said disaster personnel have been dispatched to La Paz town to monitor the Rio Chico River, which is similarly rising to a critical level.

The Rio Chico River defines the boundary of Tarlac and Nueva Ecija. When it overflows, it cuts off vehicular traffic between the two provinces along the Tarlac-Sta. Rosa route.

Tarlac is still reeling from the onslaught of typhoon "Harurot" and heavy floods triggered by a week-long "monsoon trough" last month, prompting provincial authorities to declare a "state of calamity."

The twin calamities caused P18 million in infrastructure damage and an estimated P36.77 million in crop losses. Fishpond owners reported losses of nearly a million pesos.