FLOODING. Personnel from the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office in Masinloc, Zambales conduct pre-emptive evacuation of residents affected by flooding on Friday (July 14, 2023). Moderate to heavy rains are being experienced in the province due to Tropical Depression Dodong. (Photo courtesy of the Masinloc MDRRMO)
SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – Moderate to heavy rains brought by Tropical Depression Dodong submerged some areas in Zambales province in floods on Friday.
Based on the report of the Zambales Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, some parts in the towns of Masinloc, Palauig, Candelaria, Botolan, Cabagan, and Castillejos were inundated in floodwaters, forcing some residents to evacuate to safer grounds.
In Masinloc, municipal disaster risk reduction and management officer Joel Tovera said some 84 families or 297 residents from the villages of Baloganon, Collat, Tapuac, Sta. Rita, Sto. Rosario, and San Lorenzo were brought to evacuation centers.
Tovera said rescue operations are still ongoing in some low-lying villages as floodwaters continued to rise due to strong rains.
Masinloc councilor Hazel Jalata-Lim said relief goods are now ready for distribution to the evacuation centers.
“Kasalakuyan na rin pong umiikot ang ating mga personnel ng Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office, Municipal Action Office at rural health unit para magbigay ng gamot sa ating evacuation areas (Our personnel from the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office, Municipal Action Office, and rural health unit are going around to distribute medicines in the evacuation centers),” Lim said in an interview.
She advised residents in low-lying villages to pre-emptively evacuate as floodwater is expected to rise due to continuous heavy rains.
“Maging maagap po tayo at piliin na po nating magtungo sa mga evacuation center natin kada barangay (Let us be prompt and go to our evacuation center in every village),” Lim said
In Botolan, some residents from barangays Tampo and Binoclutan were also evacuated.
Andy Divino, head of the Botolan Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), said they are closely monitoring the situation after the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration raised an orange rainfall warning over Zambales on Friday afternoon.
“Patuloy po tayong nakaantabay sa oras-oras para sa epektong dulot ni Dodong (We are continuously on standby every hour to monitor the effect brought by Dodong),” Divino said.
In Palauig, the provincial road along Sto. Tomas and the boundary of Macarang-Liozon are not passable to light vehicles.
Likewise, the Yamot National Road in Candelaria town is also impassable to light vehicles.
Meanwhile, the Department of Public Works and Highways-Zambales District Engineering Office, in its advisory, informed motorists traveling the Olongapo-Bugallon Road that there is only one lane open in Barangay Pangolingan, Palauig due to flooding. (PNA)
