8 Tarlac towns flooded

By Joelyn G. Baluyut

Wednesday 8th of August 2012

TARLAC CITY, Tarlac, Aug 8 (PIA) -- Eight towns in Tarlac are flooded due to typhoon “Gener” and southwest monsoon as of Tuesday, August 7.

Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) said these towns are: La Paz, Paniqui, Sta.Ignacia, Camiling, Concepcion, Capas, Gerona and Moncada, affecting 35 barangays.

Of these barangays, seven are from La Paz; five from Paniqui; six, Concepcion; 10 Sta. Ignacia; four, Capas; and one each in Gerona and Moncada. The depth of flood in these barangays ranges from one to three feet.

PDRRMC also reported that 4,226 families equivalent to 17,438 persons are affected by the typhoon.

The Local Government Unit (LGU) extended P47,502 to Paniqui town while P69,575 to Sta. Ignacia town.

Basic commodities such as rice, sardines, and noodles were given to the families affected.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Regional Office 3 had also extended P75,408 worth of assistance which include the same basic commodities.

The Philippine Red Cross had also donated 50 boxes of biscuits to the families affected by the typhoon, said PDRRMC.

As of today, two gates of San Roque Dam are still open at two meters opening releasing water at 490 cubic meters per seconds.

The council also disclosed that all roads and bridges are passable in the province except for the Tarlac- Camiling Road (Romulo Highway) section of Camilingan Sur which is not passable to light vehicles due to knee-deep water, and the Bangot Bridge of Sta. Lucia which overflowed at 31 feet and is not passable to all types of vehicles.

PDRRMC had also reported there is an ongoing rescue and evacuation operation in Barangay Sta. Monica and San Jose, Concepcion by MDRRMC Concepcion Rescue Team.

The Municipal and Provincial DRRMC are still closely monitoring the low lying municipalities of the province as flood water may rise due to the continuous rains brought about by the southwest monsoon. (RmB/JGB-PIA3)