TRACTOR ROAD Residents of Dagupan City rely on the “kuliglig,” or tractor, for transportation on a flooded street.—WILLIE LOMIBAO
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — The number of flooded villages in Central Luzon increased to 156 on Wednesday after the southwest monsoon, two tropical depressions and a tropical storm whipped up rains and winds across the region for close to three weeks.
At least 94 villages in Pampanga province were submerged in a foot to four feet of water as swollen rivers in Tarlac, Nueva Ecija and Bulacan provinces drained to the Pampanga River.
Pampanga Gov. Lilia Pineda urged Public Works Secretary Mark Villar on Wednesday to start dredging the silted mouth of the Pampanga River.
Floods and strong rains and waves displaced 561,969 people in Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales.
At least 15,240 people moved to evacuation centers.
Floodwaters and landslides swept or buried 19 houses and damaged 168 others.
Floodwaters scoured a dike in Barangay Balanti in Tarlac City, with damages estimated at P20 million.
A slope along the national highway in San Antonio town in Zambales eroded.
Schools reopen
On Wednesday, most schools in the region resumed classes, except those in seven towns and cities.
Sections of 11 roads and two bridges were not passable in Pampanga and Tarlac on Wednesday due to floods.
Floods also destroyed rice and vegetable crops, with damages initially estimated at P412.3 million, mostly in Tarlac.
As of Wednesday, the regional disaster risk reduction and management council said local governments had declared a state of calamity in the towns of Paombong and Marilao in Bulacan, La Paz, Ramos and Victoria in Tarlac, Masantol in Pampanga, and Licab in Nueva Ecija.
Latest fatality
In Pangasinan province, a second fatality had been reported.
Darius Carcamo, 20, died from a snake bite on Monday while he was inspecting his flooded farm at Barangay Poponto in Bautista town, according to the provincial disaster risk reduction and management office.
On July 20, Ailene Isidro Sison, 20, was killed after she was swept by strong current as she crossed a creek in Mangatarem town.
As of Wednesday, floodwaters in many towns had receded and roads were passable again to light vehicles.
But Calasiao town and Dagupan City remained under water, with thousands of residents still in evacuation centers.
Since last week, more than 1,000 evacuees had been staying in Calasiao gymnasium while 1,000 people had sought shelter in Dagupan City astrodome. —Reports from Tonette Orejas and Gabriel Cardinoza