Manila: Initial inspections in areas affected by the torrential rains caused by the southwest monsoon, known locally as "habagat," revealed that Pampanga is the hardest-hit province, according to a ranking official from the Office of Civil Defense (OCD).
According to Philippines News Agency, OCD Deputy Administrator for Administration Assistant Secretary Bernado Rafaelito Alejandro IV explained in an online briefing that aerial inspections have been conducted on the affected areas, the most recent of which took place on Monday morning. The inspections revealed that floodwaters remain high in the municipality of San Simon and most parts of Pampanga. It was reported that 330 villages in 20 local governments within the province are still experiencing flooding.
Governor Lilia Pineda and disaster response officials have requested sustained relief and response operations from national government agencies, as local government personnel have been working continuously for the past three weeks. The OCD officials agreed to this request. Alejandro mentioned that Defense Undersecretary Irineo Espino and Undersecretary Harold Cabreros have committed to addressing these needs to allow emergency response personnel, not only from Pampanga but also from Zambales and Tarlac, some respite.
During the aerial inspection on Monday, Alejandro noted that they managed to reach Tarlac and observed two bridges destroyed by last week's heavy flooding. However, the inspection was hampered by heavy rains, and a more detailed inspection is planned for Tuesday. The monitoring will extend to Zambales and Pangasinan, in light of the weather bureau's forecast of continued rains over the next two days.
Previously, the OCD reported that the combined effects of tropical cyclones Luis, Maymay, and Neneng, along with the southwest monsoon, have affected around 8.8 million people, or approximately 2.5 million families, in regions including Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Bicol, Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Cordillera, and the National Capital Region. The reported number of deaths stands at 33, with 19 injured and three missing.
