Flood-hit Candaba under state of calamity

CANDABA, Pampanga — Municipal officials placed this town under a state of calamity yesterday as the swelling waters of the Pampanga River breached dikes and triggered erosion, threatening at least 138 families living on the banks of the river in six barangays.

The floods have destroyed some P10 million worth of agricultural products, including honeydew and watermelons, municipal officials said.

Mayor Jerry Pelayo said the 138 families from the barangays of Sto. Rosario, Gulap, Buas, Bangbang, Mandasig, Lanang and Tansingao have abandoned their homes as strong currents continued to rapidly erode the banks of the Pampanga River.

"The 138 families can no longer go back to their homes which will surely be eroded into the Pampanga River," Pelayo said, adding that there are plans to permanently relocate them elsewhere.

President Arroyo is slated to visit the flooded areas here today after attending an assembly of barangay officials at Expo Pilipino at the Clark special economic zone, Pelayo said.

Municipal engineer Alex Veneracion said the swelling waters of the Pampanga River have breached three sections of the Arnedo dike in Barangays Mandasig, Lanang and Pansinao.

Veneracion said portions of the Arnedo dike were also breached in Barangays Malisik, Barangca, Mapaniqui and Salapungan as well as parts of the Maasim dike in Bahay Pare, Dulong Ilog, Visal Sto. Nino and Pulong Gubat.

Damage to the dikes was placed at P13.25 million.

An estimated 148 hectares of farmlands in the barangays of Paliqui, Mandili, Tagulod, Salapungan, Lourdes, Cuayang Bugtong, Bahay Pare, Visal San Pablo and Pulong Plaza remained under four to five feet of floodwaters.

In Barangay San Agustin, some 1,000 families were flood-stricken, Pelayo said.

Pelayo said plans are afoot for the construction of new homes for the 138 families near the Candaba-Sta. Ana boundary with the help of Gawad Kalinga. Sen. Francis Pangilinan is initiating the housing program.

Pelayo blamed the worsening flooding in his town to the heavy siltation of the Pampanga River.

He said even the town proper of Candaba is now in danger of being hit by floodwaters from the river.

"Candaba is below sea level and the only measure to curb the worsening threat of calamities is to continue a river channel project abandoned by the government years ago. The new channel would deflect the flow of the river from populated areas," he said.

Pelayo said he has coordinated with the Department of Public Works and Highways so the channel project could be pursued. — Ding Cervantes