5,000 families affected by southwest monsoon in Tarlac

By Joelyn G. Baluyut

Wednesday 8th of August 2012

TARLAC CITY, Tarlac, August 8 (PIA) -- More than 5,000 families in eight towns in Tarlac province have been affected by the southwest monsoon rains, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) said in its report as of 12 noon today.

A total of 1,184 families were inside 6 identified evacuation centers in the province, while 385 stayed outside evacuation centers, according to a Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) report.

Most of these towns, with 43 barangays, experienced flooding including La Paz, Paniqui, Camiling, Concepcion, Sta. Ignacia, Capas, Gerona, and Moncada.

As flood control measure, the PDRRMC has delivered 24,000 sacks of sand to the following municipalities: 2,000 sacks each in Barangay Poblacion Sur, San Clemente, and Camiling; 10,000, Concepcion; 1,000 each for Villa Paz and Malayep in Gerona, Salapungan in Tarlac City, Bantog Victoria, and La Paz; 3,500, Aquino Bridge Mabini, Tarlac City; and 1,500, Moncada.

Two trucks of sand each were also transported to Barangay Poblacion Sur, San Clemente, Villa Paz, Gerona, and Camiling; one each in Malayep, Gerona, and Bantog, Victoria; while five in Aquino Bridge Mabini, Tarlac City.

The local governments of Paniqui and Sta. Ignacia released P47,502 and P69,575 to assist residents. Meanwhile, the Philippine Red Cross has donated 50 cartons of biscuits to the families affected.

In Capas town, four barangays are flooded including Cut-Cut 1st, Odonel, Manlapig, and Bueno affecting 855 families or 4,051 persons.

As of 6 a.m. today, two gates of San Roque Dam are still open at 2.5 meters opening releasing water at 495 cubic meters per seconds (cms). (RmB/JGB-PIA3)