Over 41,000 families in Calumpit affected by floods

More than 41,000 families in Calumpit, Bulacan are affected by the floods caused by the nonstop rains brought by the southwest monsoon or habagat and Tropical Storm Emong.

According to Nico Waje’s report in “Saksi” on Wednesday, residents find ways to perform their day-to-day activities despite the situation.

In Barangay Calizon, residents brave the floods just to get free sacks of rice and other aid from the local government.

“Medyo hirap ngayon dahil maraming hindi nakakapaghanap-buhay, kaya medyo hirap ang Barangay Calizon,” said Councilor Jonjon Gonzales.

But there are some who cannot afford to be absent in their work and they wade through flooded streets.

“Ngayon ang pasok ko ay alas otso. Kailangan maaga akong makaalis para may masakyan pa po,” said factory worker Emmanuel Salonga.

(Today I have work at eight. I need to leave early so I can catch a ride.)

The town of Calumpit does not easily get flooded even when the Pampanga River is on high tide. But the water level rises when both the Ipo and Bustos dams release water, the report said.

The flood is also an inconvenience to those who are in need of medical treatment such as Monico Esponilla, who has to bring his wife to her sibling’s house for an easier travel so she can have dialysis treatment.

“Yung misis ko dina-dialysis tatlong beses sa isang linggo. Kaya nilipat ko rito kasi bukas, alas kwatro y medya, punta kami sa ospital,” he said. 

(My wife is on dialysis three times a week. So I moved her here because tomorrow, at four-thirty, we're going to the hospital.)

The Calumpit government is now asking the national government to help them address the flooding in the town.

“Dito po sa amin sa pamahalaang bayan ng Calumpit, sa lokal, ang magagawa po namin is magkaroon po kami ng pumping station. Pero kailangan namin ng tulong ng nation, especially ng DPWH, para makulong ang kailogan namin. Kasi kapag nakulong ang kailogan namin, pwede tayo maglagay ng pumping stations,” said Mayor Lem Faustino.

(Here in the Calumpit municipal government, locally, all we can do is have a pumping station. But we need the help of the nation, especially the DPWH, to contain our water from the river. Because when the water from our river is contained, we can put up pumping stations.) — Vince Angelo Ferreras/BAP, GMA Integrated News