Flash floods hit 13 Bulacan villages

MALOLOS CITY, Philippines – Despite the sunny weather, at least 13 villages in the town of San Miguel in Bulacan were hit by flash floods twice on Sunday, which local officials blamed on the alleged mining operations in the Sierra Madre mountains.

The floods came a day after Super Typhoon Yolanda left the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

Mayor Roderick Tiongson said the floods surprised them, as the sun had been up since Saturday morning.

“We believe it is due to ongoing mining operations in Sierra Madre,” Tiongson said referring to the iron ore extraction in Barangay Camachin in Doña Remedios Trinidad.

He lamented the sorry state of Sierra Madre on the east side of his town, noting that for years it has been subjected to marble quarrying and iron ore mining.

“The damage has been done and our townmates in San Miguel are suffering, especially the farmers,” he said adding that 13 of the 49 villages were submerged in floodwaters at least three feet deep.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) allayed fears on the possible flooding due to the release of water from the Angat, Ipo and Bustos dams. 

Raul Agustin, of the PDRRMO special operations, said the water releases would have minimal effect, noting that they recorded little or no rainfall in most parts of Pampanga since Saturday.

As of yesterday morning, Angat Dam increased its water discharge to 265 cubic meters per second, while Bustos Dam released 285 cms.

“If they are spilling 600 cms and above, we should start to worry,” Agustin said.