5 Laguna areas under state of calamity due to flood

Laguna Governor Jeorge ER Ejercito on Monday placed five cities and municipalities in the province under state of calamity due to the flood caused by persistent rain.

“Sa ngayon ay idineklara nang State of Calamity Areas ang mga lugar ng San Pedro, Biñan, Sta. Rosa, Calamba at Cabuyao,” Ejercito said in a post on his Facebook account.

He said as of Monday night, some 2,000 families remain in evacuation centers while others were waiting to be rescued from their flooded homes.

Classes  in all levels in the province were also suspended for Tuesday, August 20, as advised by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Ejercito said.

He also listed there the numbers of offices the public may call as he asked the residents to be alert and pray for the safety of everyone.

“Laking pasasalamat ko sa Panginoon na wala namang naiuulat na nasawi sa ating lalawigan,” Ejercito also said.

In an interview with GMA News Online, Aldwin Cejo, acting Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) operations head, said they recommended the declaration of state of calamity to allow the affected areas to use 30 percent of the five percent of their calamity funds.

“Nag-recommend kami kay gov pero specifically for the five affected cities and municipalities lang muna. Napag-meetingan ng council na idadagdag na lang sa resolution 'yung iba pang lugar na maaapektuhan kung meron man,” he said over the phone.

Cejo said they have coordinated with the Department of Social Welfare and Development for the distribution of relief goods and with the Philippine Army and National Police for the rescue operations.

On Monday afternoon, floodwater, which reached the second floor of several houses in Biñan, has started subsiding.

“Sa San Pedro puro putik na ang natira,” he said.

Based on PDRRMO records, 63 families were in evacuation center in Brgy. Balibago and 160 in Macabling, both in Sta. Rosa; 85 in Brgy. Garlado, Biñan; six in Brgy. Casile, 28 in Brgy. San Antonio, two in Brgy. Soro soro, 332 in Brgy. Kanlalay, 630 in Brgy. Malaban, 152 in Brgy. Dela Paz, all in San Pedro; 186 in Brgy. Bigaa, 15 in Brgy. Niugan, and 28 in Brgy. Marinig, all in Cabuyao; 110 in Brgy San Cristobal, 101 in Brgy. Dos and two Brgy Sukol, all in Calamba.

A staff at the office of Sta Rosa mayor said 18 of their barangays were under water.

In an interview with Balitanghali, Ejercito reiterated the need to build immediately the Pacific Spillway, which will pass through the boundary of Laguna and Quezon and solve the flooding problem in the area.

“Nananawagan kami kay LLDA (Laguna Lake Development Authority) head Nereus Acosta, kay President (Benigno) Aquino... magawa sana ngayong taong ito o next year para matigil ang pagbaha, ang Pacific Spillway,” he said.

He said the talks for the construction of the spillway are ongoing, particularly on whether it will be a public-private project, a government-to-government loan, or a grant or aid.

“Tuloy tuloy ang pag-uusap, maraming plano. Mahirap ang dredging at silting (ng Laguna de Bay), pansamantala lang yan,” Ejercito said. — Amita Legaspi/KBK, GMA News