Heavy rains flood Camarines Sur villages

MAGARAO, Camarines Sur—Heavy rains which have been pouring since Thursday night caused floods in several towns in Camarines Sur and villages in Naga City Friday.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the rains were
brought by localized thunderstorms and tail end of a cold front which is affecting parts of Quezon province and Bicol region.

A road in Sta. Lucia village in this town was flooded due to obstruction on the drainage caused by a road-widening project of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Magarao Mayor Philip Salvador Señar said he would send a letter to the DPWH regarding the status of the project and to ask them why the contractor did not clear the obstruction it caused on the drainage and waterways.

Samuel Orpia, a resident of Sta. Lucia, said houses in their neighborhood were already flooded.

DPWH second district engineer Rebecca Roces said she would ask the contractor to inspect and clear obstructions.

Roces said both sides of the road are rice fields which have also been flooded.

Early Friday, both Naga City government and Camarines Sur provincial government declared separate suspensions of classes in all levels due to heavy rains and the possibility of flooding.  Juan Escandor Jr., @JuanEscandorINQ, Inquirer Southern Luzon