Several Bulacan towns still flooded due to overflow from dams, high tide

Local government and rescue teams remained on red alert in Bulacan, where several areas remained flooded as of Wednesday morning.

 

"Ang mga nakalubog dito yung mga low-lying areas, yung southern portion," Bulacan Governor Willy Sy-Alvarado said on GMA News TV's News to Go.

 

Flooded areas in Bulacan included Paombong, Malolos, Calumpit, Guiguinto, Balagtas, Bocaue, Marilao, and Meycauayan. 

 

Several roads were impassable due to floods caused by the southwest monsoon enhanced by Tropical Storm Maring, which left the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Wednesday.

 

In Malolos, the Capitol Compound became a water world, GMA News stringer Rommel Ramos reported on News to Go.

Nurses at the Bulacan Medical Center had to ride the rescue teams' ambulances, as no other vehicles could pass through the floods, which were four feet deep in some areas.

 

Water was waist-deep in Barangay Saluysoy, Meycauayan, GMA News' Rhea Santos reported on GMA News' Unang Hirit.

 

A family was shown in the report wading through the flood, using a basin as a makeshift boat for their baby.

 

Gov. Alvarado said Hagonoy and Obando suffered the most, as these areas become submerged when water overflows from Manila Bay.

 

In a telephone interview on Unang Hirit, Alvarado said they expect water levels to rise some more, due to water coming from Angat Dam.

 

"Kasalukuyan naming binabantayan itong tubig dito sa Angat Dam at Pampanga Delta basin na ang convergence ay dito sa bayan ng Calumpit," he said.

 

Alvarado explained that water levels rose after Bustos Dam released 500 cubic meters of water per second on Tuesday.

 

"At ito po ang naging sanhi ng biglaang paglaki na naman kagabi at sinasalubong ngayon ng tubig na high tide na galing sa Manila Bay," he said.

 

According to the governor, Bustos Dam released 190 cubic meters per second on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Ipo Dam is releasing around 45 cubic meters per second.

 

"Medyo mahina na po ito pero ang nakakatakot nito medyo mahina dito sa mga bayan-bayan ng lalawigan ng Bulacan pero sa ating kabundukan, doon sa watershed ng Angat nasa 48 ang rainfall. Medyo mataas pa rin po yan at lahat ng iyan ay bababa rin dito sa low-lying areas," Alvarado said.

 

To get to Manila Bay, this water will pass through Pulilan, Calumpit, Hagonoy, and Paombong, he added. 

 

"Yung tubig na nanggagaling sa Nueva Ecija na dumadaloy patungo sa Pampanga lalo na sa Candaba, pagka ito ay nag-overflow ang labas nito ay dito rin sa Calumpit at Hagonoy kaya eto ang binabantayan namin sa ngayon," Alvarado said.

 

Meanwhile, residents in geohazard areas were evacuated on Monday. Alvarado said they are preparing a relocation site in Bustos for the affected families. 

 

"Bigay po ito ng ating Pangulo. Meron po tayong 3,000 pabahay dito na ang 800 ay ready na for occupancy," he said, adding that the families would be transferred in August and September. — Carmela G. Lapeña/RSJ, GMA News