With over P895 million in total damage
PBBM conducts situational briefing, lays aid to TS Carina-hit Bulacan
CITY OF MALOLOS– President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. together with some of his cabinet secretaries met with Bulacan Governor Daniel R. Fernando and the local chief executives of the province to assess the situation on the ground and lay the aid for the Bulakenyos affected by Typhoon Carina enhanced by the southwest monsoon.
In the situational briefing held at the Benigno Aquino Sr. Session Hall inside the Bulacan Capitol, the president said that an additional water impounding facility that will catch waters from the upstream during the rainy season and will provide water source and irrigation during the dry season is the solution on the flooding problem as advised by hydrology experts.
“Ang talagang pinagmulan ng baha, hindi ‘yung masyadong ulan kundi ‘yung bumabang tubig. Ang laki ng bumaba na tubig sabay-sabay, bigla. Hindi na nakayanan ng ating slope protection, flood control, mga dike,” the president said.
Meanwhile, Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian said that 90,086 family food packs are already in various parts of the province, while an additional 109,781 are expected to be given within the week.
Also, Department of Labor and Employment Sec. Bienvenido Laguesma committed P46 million worth of livelihood assistance under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) for the province.
On the other hand, Fernando reported that all four cities and 20 municipalities of the province were affected by flooding that resulted in over P895 million in total damage including P789 million in infrastructure, P103,775,818.85 in agriculture and fisheries, and P2,091,600 in livestock and poultry.
The governor added that this amount is expected to balloon in the coming days as assessments in the other areas are still in order.
He also stated that 1,679,973 individuals or 492,932 families are affected in Bulacan.
While the main concerns during these times are disaster preparedness, risk reduction, relief, and recovery, Fernando pointed out that the Provincial Government is focusing on long-term solutions to the decade-old problem.
“Kung hindi nga lamang po sa masungit na panahon ay nakatakda na sana nating simulan ang Bulacan River Restoration Program to be led by engineers, environmental experts and geologists sa ilalim ng interagency committee katuwang ang DENR at DPWH,” the governor said.
Aside from Bulacan, the president also heard the reports from Pampanga Gov. Dennis Pineda and Bataan Gov. Jose Enrique Garcia III on their respective province’s situation amidst the disaster. ###