Half of 32 Valenzuela barangays flooded

MANILA, Philippines - Heavy rains brought by typhoon “Kiko,” the high tide and water released from the Ipo Dam combined to submerge 16 of Valenzuela City’s barangays yesterday.

Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian, however, assured the public that there is still no need to declare a state of calamity and they have not evacuated families in critical areas.

He, however, ordered the suspension of classes in the city’s elementary and high schools.

City information chief Marither Menia said the rains, the water from the Ipo Dam and the high tide at Manila Bay caused the Meycauayan River to overflow and submerge half of the city’s 32 barangays.

She said in the inner roads of Barangay Polo, in the northern part of the city, the water level reached 22 to 30 inches. The water reached about 18 inches in Barangay Dalandanan further south, said Menia.

Menia added new roads in neighboring Obando town in Bulacan compounded the flood. The roads were built on a higher level than in Valenzuela, making the city a natural catchbasin for the runoff in Obando.

Gatchalian said all existing pumping stations are working to the limit.

City Liga ng mga Barangay President and City Councilor Alvin Feliciano, Barangay Arkong Bato chairman, told The STAR “the people have gotten used to this situation” and they are waiting for the high tide to ebb so the floodwaters would go down.

The other affected areas were Wawang Pulo, Balangkas, Pariancillo Villa, Poblacion, Palasan, Arkong Bato, Mabolo, Tagalag, Bisig, Isla, Pasolo, Rincon, Coloong and Malanday. – Jerry Botial