Hagonoy Public Cemetery remains flooded despite town’s 43 flood projects

Even the dead need to endure the flooding that has been troubling the residents of Hagonoy in Bulacan for several years. 

According to JP Soriano’s report in “24 Oras” on Tuesday, there are 43 flood control projects worth P3.05 billion in Hagonoy. 

Despite this, Joseph Simon has to carefully wade through murky floodwater inside the Hagonoy Public Cemetery to visit his late wife’s tomb. 

“Kung totoong ginawa nila yung project na ‘yun, eh di sana hindi kami naghihirap nang ganito,” he said. 

(If these projects really do exist, then we should not be suffering like this.) 

With many graves submerged, visitors on All Saints’ and All Souls’ days face a difficult time looking for their departed loved ones. 

Some have already sought help from Eduardo Ignacio, a gravedigger, to recover the bones of their loved ones and transfer them to drier resting places. 

“Hindi sila makapunta dito dahil sa tubig, madulas, bukod pa doon, ‘yung mga basura, mga kalat sa loob, baka ma-pako pa sila. Kaya bihirang-bihira lang,” he said. 

(They don’t visit anymore because of the water, it’s slippery, and they are afraid of stepping on nails because of the trash inside.) 

The municipal government is already taking action by clearing obstructions from the nearby river. The high tide causes flooding in the cemetery and the roads even if there is no typhoon, the report said. 

For her part, the mayor placed the blame on the lack of consultation by the Department of Public Works and Highways, with some projects either unfinished or unpolished. 

“Instead of simpleng revetment lamang, ginawa na po nilang road dike ito - mas matibay, mas malapad,” said Hagonoy Mayor Rosario Sy-Alvarado Mendoza. 

(Instead of a simple revetment, they could have built a road dike here which is much stronger and wider.) 

“Kung meron lang cluster na inuna, natapos, mayroon na sanang nasasalba ngayon na barangay na hindi na po binabaha,” she added. 

(If they just prioritized or finished a cluster, some barangays could have been saved from flooding.) 

The Department of Public Works and Highways has yet to give a comment, but the Bulacan First District Engineering Office is already investigating the matter.  —Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News