Due to the damaging effects of South West Monsoon enhanced by Tropical Storm Karding and high tide, the province of Bulacan is now placed under a state of calamity.
This was declared by Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) headed by its Chairman, Bulacan Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado during the emergency and third quarter meeting of PDRRMC on Monday afternoon at the PDRRMO Training Room and Operational Center Office in this city.
Based on the Situation Report No. 6 of PDRRMC released at 6 pm, 12 towns including Balagtas, Baliwag, Bocaue, Bustos, Calumpit, Guiguinto, Hagonoy, Paombong, Plaridel, Santa Maria, Marilao and Obando and the Cities of Malolos and Meycauayan are submerged in flood water wherein a total of 126,422 families or 619,969 individuals were affected.
Also, some 1,706 families or 8,526 individuals were temporarily evacuated in 30 evacuation centers located in 10 towns including Balagtas, Baliwag, Bocaue, Bustos, Calumpit, Hagonoy, Guiguinto, Paombong, Plaridel, and Santa Maria and the Cities of Malolos and Meycauayan.
A state of calamity has also been declared in the four towns and one city in Bulacan including Hagonoy, Paombong, Marilao and Calumpit as well as the City of Meycauayan.
Also, 18 towns have suspended their classes in all levels on Tuesday including Paombong, Balagtas, Guiguinto, Calumpit, Bocaue, Hagonoy, Baliwag, Bustos, Bulakan, Marilao, Norzagaray, Plaridel, Pulilan, San Rafael, Santa Maria, Pandi, San Ildefonso, and Angat and three Cities including Malolos, Meycauayan and San Jose Del Monte.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Health Office has distributed Doxycycline and ointment in the flooded areas while the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office led the distribution of 1,358 packs of relief goods in Districts 1, 2 and 4.
“we dispatched PDRRMC army truck in the towns of Marilao, Bocaue and Balagtas for “Libreng Sakay” for starnded commuters and situation monitoring is still conducted particularly the releasing of water from Ipo and Bustos Dam,” Alvarado said.
He also reminded the Bulakenyos to protect themselves against diseases common during the rainy season like dengue and leptospirosis.
He also instructed the 42 member agencies and representatives who attended the said meeting including the Philippine Army, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, Dep Ed, and Department of Public Works and Highways among others to intensify coordination for a more organized communication and action.