Pampanga towns hold ‘flood summit’ today

National and provincial officials will gather in Guagua, Pampanga today for a first-ever "flood summit" to address the perennial flooding affecting several municipalities in the province.

Councilor Divine David-Tulio, who chairs the committee on health of the Guagua Sangguniang Bayan, said the annual flooding of the business center, market area and several barangays has hampered the town’s economic growth and pose serious health hazards to the locals.

"Presently, cases of dengue and other diseases have been monitored and only kept in check by the vigilant monitoring of concerned health authorities," said David-Tulio.

One of the proponents of the summit, David-Tulio is hoping that the summit would centralize the efforts of national and provincial officials in addressing the flood problem in Pampanga in the years ahead.

The summit, to be held at the Cardinal Santos building at the Immaculate Concepcion Parish, will be attended by leaders and representatives of the business, religious, transport, academe and other sectors.

Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., Sen. Lito Lapid, Pampanga Gov. Mark Lapid, Rep. Mikey Arroyo, League of Municipalities of the Philippines president and Lubao Mayor Dennis Pineda and other national and provincial officials have signified their intention to attend the summit.

Marcelina Ocampo, DPWH assistant regional director and concurrent maintenance division chief, will brief the participants on the flood control projects and proposed mitigation measures in the flood-prone towns of Guagua, Lubao and Samsuan. — Non Alquitran