Bulacan declares state of calamity
CITY OF MALOLOS – The province of Bulacan is now placed under a “state of calamity” after it experienced massive flooding due to South West Monsoon enhanced by different tropical cyclones since July 19, 2018 up to present.
In line with this, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Bulacan, through the initiatives of Board Members Felix Ople and Therese Cheryll Ople passed the Resolution Number 353-T’18 declaring that the province of Bulacan is under the “State of Calamity” due to the said damaging effects of flood in agriculture, livelihood and infrastructure.
The said declaration was inked after the request of Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) headed by its Chairman, Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado during the Emergency and Third Quarter Meeting of PDRRMC last August 13 at the PDRRMO Training Room in this city.
Based on the PDRRMC Resolution No. 1 series 2018, cities and towns in the province suffered heavy rainfall brought by Tropical Storm Henry last July 15 – 24, Tropical Storm Inday last July 17 – 24 and Tropical Depression Josie last July 20 – 23 enhanced by South West Monsoon.
Further, the damaging experience of the province worsened because of the South West Monsoon enhanced by Tropical Storm Karding and high tide this August 11-13, 2018.
According to the Damage Assessment Report of the members and representatives of the council and other partner agencies from different government and private agencies, 124,986 families or 624,930 individuals were affected by the said calamity wherein 1,678 families were temporarily evacuated in 32 evacuation centers located in the 12 municipalities including Cities of Malolos and Meycauayan, Bulakan, Bocaue, Balagtas, Baliwag, Bustos, Calumpit, Guiguinto, Hagonoy, Paombong and Plaridel.
It was also reported in the said meeting the P46,000,000 damages to primary and secondary roads in the province while 1,567 hectares of farm land and 1,901 hectares of fish pond were damaged and could possibly increase in the coming days because of the continuous rainfall in the province.
About 100 cooperatives and 70 Small Medium Enterprises from Bocaue, Marilao, Balagtas and City of Meycauayan were also affected by the said calamity.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Health Office-Public Health distributed 46,500 capsules of Doxycycline and ointment for leptospirosis in the 14 municipalities including Cities of Malolos and Meycauayan, Bocaue, Bulakan, Bustos, Calumpit, Hagonoy, Paombong, Plaridel, Pandi, San Rafael, Pulilan, Marilao and Obando.
Alvarado said that the declaration will help them address the situation through immediate release of funds needed for relief operation, rehabilitation, reconstruction and other rescue measures.
Based on the Situation Report No. 6 of PDRRMC that was released last August 13 at 6 pm, Cities of Malolos and Meycauayan and 12 towns including Balagtas, Baliwag, Bocaue, Bustos, Calumpit, Guiguinto, Hagonoy, Paombong, Plaridel, Santa Maria, Marilao and Obando were submerged in flood.
Also, the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office continue to distribute relief goods.
Further, PDRRMC at present has intensifies its conduct of massive Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis or DANA for rehabilitation.
A state of calamity has also been declared in the City of Meycauayan and four towns of Bulacan including Hagonoy, Paombong, Marilao, and Calumpit.
“Nag-dispatch po tayo ng PDRRMC truck sa mga bayan ng Marilao, Bocaue at Balagtas para sa Libreng Sakay sa lahat na mga nai-stranded kahapon, gayundin ang patuloy na pagmomonitor ng mga sitwasyon partikular na sa pagre-release ng tubig sa mga dam, pagpapaigting ng koordinasyon para sa mas maayos na komunikasyon at aksyon.” Alvarado said.
He also reminded the Bulakenyos to protect themselves against diseases common during the rainy season like dengue and leptospirosis.