Widespread flooding in Central Luzon

MARSHLAND. Aerial shot of a ricefield submerged in water in Central Luzon, one of the regions swamped by the heavy rains spawned by Typhoon “Pedring” on September 27, 2011. NORTHERN LUZON COMMAND PHOTO

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Philippines –From a helicopter, the view of Central Luzon on Friday was like a basin full of water.

This was how Josefina Timoteo, Office of Civil Defense regional director, described what she saw when she and other officials assessed the extent of flooding in Central Luzon brought about by heavy rains dumped by Typhoon “Pedring”, which left the country on Wednesday, and the release of water from overflowing dams.

On Friday, despite good weather, the Pampanga River continued to swell, with water from dams and watersheds in the region draining through it. This prompted residents in the coastal towns of Candaba, Arayat, Apalit, San Luis, San Simon and Masantol in Pampanga, and Calumpit and Hagonoy in Bulacan to stay on top of dikes, huddle on their rooftops or gather on the second floors of their or their neighbors’ houses as they awaited rescue.

Reports gathered by the Philippine Daily Inquirer placed the level of floodwaters in various areas in Bulacan and Pampanga at between a meter and 3.048 meters (between 3 and 10 feet).

Aerial shot of Pantabangan Dam in Nueva Ecija. NORTHERN LUZON COMMAND PHOTO

Officials of the military’s Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) in Tarlac City said they asked officials of the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy and Philippine Air Force to direct their personnel, equipment and rubber boats to rescue residents in Bulacan and Pampanga.

“We have generated all available water assets and rescue teams from the tri-service from Manila and [sent them] last night to Candaba, San Simon and Calumpit. Our (special forces) have been in Hagonoy as of [Thursday] morning,” said Captain Jovily Carmel Cabading, Nolcom spokesperson.

Cabading said soldiers from the Army’s 56th Infantry Battalion and Scout Rangers, the Navy contingent in Northern Luzon and the First Air Division of the PAF have also been sent to San Simon, Calumpit, San Miguel and San Jose del Monte City for rescue operations.

A community in La Paz, Tarlac goes under water. NORTHERN LUZON COMMAND

She said Major General Jessie Dellosa, Nolcom commander, asked the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ general headquarters for additional manpower in these areas.

Cabading said four military helicopters were sent to Hagonoy on Friday morning.