MALOLOS CITY, Bulacan — Some 1,059 families or 2,557 persons were transferred to 17 evacuation centers in Bulacan as southwest monsoon rains enhanced by Tropical Storm Karding flooded at least 70 villages in the province over the weekend.
Classes in 19 towns and three cities were suspended in all levels, both in public and private schools, due to heavy downpour and deep floodwater.
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) reported Monday that the 70 flooded barangays were in Meycauayan City and the towns of Hagonoy, Marilao, Baliwag, Balagtas, Bocaue, Guiguinto and Calumpit.
PDRRMO head Liz Mungcal said that in Meycauyan City, 10 villages — Bancal, Banga, Bayugo, Longos, Calvario, Hulo, Longos, Saluysoy, Gasak, and Zamora — were under one to two feet of floodwater due to the high tide and continuous rains.
In the coastal area of the town of Hagonoy, the affected barangays were Abulalas, Mercado, Palapat, Sagrada Familia, San Agustin, San Isidro, San Jose, San Juan, San Miguel, San Nicolas, San Pablo, San Pascual, San Pedro, San Roque, San Sebastian, Santa Cruz, Santa Elena, Santa Monica, Poblacion, Santo Rosario and Tampok, which were under two- to three-feet deep floodwater.
Meanwhile, 14 barangays in Calumpit were submerged in floodwater one to two feet deep. These were Sapang Bayan, Meysulao, San Miguel, Gatbuca, Frances, Calizon, Iba Este, Gugo, San Jose, Sta. Lucia, Bulusan, Pio Cruzcosa, Palimbang and Poblacion.
In Marilao, four villages — Poblacion 1, Poblacion 2, Nagbalon, and Ibayo — were under 1.5 to 2.5-feet deep of floodwater.
“Floods were also reported in eight barangays in Bocaue; six in Baliwag; four in Guinguinto; and three in Balagtas,” Mungcal also said.
The PDRRMO also reported that Ipo Dam has released a total of 61.90 cubic meter per second of water from Radial Gate 1, and 70.50 cubic meters per second of water from Radial Gate B.
On the other hand, Bustos Dam has been releasing water from its spill gates — a total of 221 cubic meters per second from its South Sluice Gates 1 and 2 and North Sluice Gate 1.
Meanwhile, the Calumpit–Hagonoy and the Calumpang-Panginay provincial roads were not passable to light vehicle as of Monday morning.
The Lias-Ibayo Road in Marilao, on the other hand was passable to all kinds of vehicles while the detour road in Bustos was temporarily closed. (Manny Balbin/PNA)
