Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 6) – Many parts of Bulacan are still experiencing heavy flooding, resulting in illness among some residents, in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Egay which exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility last July 27.
“Medyo masakit na ang tyan kasi ang tubig na-stuck na or mabaho na,” Adrian Salido, a resident Barangay Siling Bata in Pandi town, said. He was referring to his children. He and his family are preparing to leave their flooded home.
[Translation: They are experiencing stomach aches because of stagnant water, which is also beginning to stink.]
Residents of Pandi said that the flooding in their town is the worst in recent years.
“Tulungan sana kami ng gobyerno na malagyan ng drainage na hindi maapektuhan ng palayan. Para tuloy-tuloy ang daloy ng tubig namin dito ay tatapon talaga doon,” Marisa Yapi, a barangay homeowner’s association official in Pandi, told CNN Philippines.
[Translation: We hope the government helps us install drainage so that rice crops won’t be affected. So that the water that continues to flow here will be dumped elsewhere.]
Pandi town Mayor Rico Roque said that the area is a catch-basin for water overflowing from the Balagtas river.
“Problema is hindi makalabas ang water sa Balagtas river. So pinakamaganda is lakihan yung mga drainage namin para makalabas, at tanggalin yung mga basura rin,” Roque said.
[Translation: The problem is that water from the Balagtas river can’t be released. So, it would be best to enlarge our drainage so this can be released, and also to remove the trash.]
The provincial government declared a province-wide state of calamity in Bulacan last Monday due to heavy flooding brought by Super Typhoon Egay. Some 228,000 families across 17 barangays were affected.
READ: Bulacan placed under state of calamity due to ‘Egay’ floods
CNN Philippines’ correspondent Crissy Dimatulac contributed to this report.
