HEAVY FLOODING. Moderate to heavy downpour brought by the enhanced southwest monsoon caused flooding in Hermosa, Bataan on Sunday (July 22). The province of Bataan is now under a state of calamity. (Photo courtesy of Aristotle Gaza)
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga -- Continuous rains on Sunday triggered massive flooding in some areas in Central Luzon brought about by the southwest monsoon as enhanced by tropical depression "Josie".
Based on the latest monitoring report in the region, several areas in the provinces of Bataan, Tarlac, Zambales, and Bulacan were inundated by floodwaters due to continuous moderate to heavy downpour.
Bataan’s 11 towns and one city are under water as high as five feet deep, where evacuation operation is being conducted for residents living in low-lying areas.
The local government units of Balanga City and Dinalupihan on Sunday afternoon declared a state of calamity in their respective localities.
Governor Albert Garcia also declared the suspension of classes on Monday in all levels for both public and private schools; and work in government offices, except those involved in disaster risk reduction and management operation.
The Bataan 2nd District Engineering Office in its situationer as of 3 p.m. Sunday showed that some major roads in the province that include the Roman Expressway; Balanga-Poblacion road; and Layac-Balanga-Mariveles Port road are not passable to light vehicles.
Stronger monsoon rains also triggered flooding in some areas in Zambales and Olongapo City, rendering major roads impassable to all types of vehicles.
According to a report from the Zambales 2nd District Engineering Office as of 2:45 p.m., among the roads impassable to all types of vehicles include the Philsecto Junction to Ilwas section in Subic; Apo-Rotunda section up to Sta. Rita section of the Jose Abad Santos Avenue (JASA) in Olongapo City; and Olongapo- Bugallon Road.
The Jose Abad Santos Avenue in front of Olongapo Public Market, on the other hand, is not passable to light vehicles.
As a result, Mayor Rolen Paulino of Olongapo City and Mayor Jay Khonghun of Subic declared the suspension of classes on Monday in all levels, both in public and private schools.
In Tarlac, some major roads were likewise not passable to all types of vehicles due to flooding.
These include the Paniqui-Camiling-Wawa road in Barangay Bilad, Camiling Tarlac section; Sta. Rosa- Tarlac Road, La Paz Section; La Paz-Victoria road; and Concepcion-La Paz Road.
In Bulacan, there are some villages in Meycauayan City and in the towns of Calumpit; Marilao; and Pulilan that are still flooded.
Suspension of classes on Monday in levels for both public and private schools were declared in Malolos City and in the towns of Calumpit; Obando; and Bocaue. (PNA)
