CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – Governor Dennis Pineda on Sunday ordered the forced evacuation of residents in high-risk coastal and upland areas amid the continuous moderate to heavy rains spawned by the southwest monsoon as enhanced by Typhoon Fabian.
Pineda, also chair of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), told the city and municipal disaster risk reduction and management councils to implement as necessary the forced evacuation in all critical barangays that are being affected by the inclement weather.
Based on the latest report of the PDRRMC, a total of 72 villages in the province are currently flooded.
“May 72 na po ang mga binahang barangay sa ating probinsya. Nagsasabay po ang mga ulan dala ng habagat, pati high tide at pag-apaw ng ilang bahagi ng Pampanga River. Maging alerto po tayo para sa kaligtasan ng ating mga pamilya (There are already 72 flooded barangays in our province. This was caused by rains brought by the southwest monsoon, high tide and the overflowing of some parts of the Pampanga River. Let us be alert for the safety of our family),” the governor said in an official social media post.
Pineda likewise urged the disaster councils to strictly monitor coastal areas for a possible increase in water level, and the upland areas for possible landslides and flash floods.
The high-risk coastal villages in the province include three in Lubao, three in Macabebe, six in Masantol and five in Sasmuan.
On the other hand, high-risk upland areas are seven villages in Arayat, three in Floridablanca, three in Mabalacat City, five in Magalang and nine in Porac. (PNA)
