MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – The coastal town of Obando in Bulacan was put under a state of calamity after the whole town was submerged in flood waters due to heavy rainfall brought about by tropical storm Maring and the southwest monsoon.

According to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) all 11 barangays in Obando are submerged in 3-4 feet of flood water, made worse by the high tide.

The Philippine Information Agency Twitter account on Tuesday, August 20, quoted Obando Bulacan Mayor Edwin Santos as saying he wants to declare a state of calamity to supply the needs of the town’s residents.

A declaration of a state of calamity means calamity funds can be quickly released to aid victims, and prices of basic goods are controlled to prevent exploitative increases. 

“Our possible problem will be food, especially if evacuees increase,” he said.

The coastal towns of Hagonoy also has 15 villages under one to two feet of water, while Calumpit has 11 villages under 2-3 feet of water, according to the Philippine News Agency.

Monitoring dams

In a DZMM interview, Bulacan Gov Wilhelmo Sy said they are keeping an eye out on Ipo Dam which may overflow, and are coordinating with officials watching Bustos Dam.

Officials of the dams have released waters to avoid an overflow. As of 8 am, the water in Bustos dam had reached 17.53 meters, just a few meters short of its 17.7-meter spilling level, while Ipo dam was at 100.24 meters, just short of its 101-meter spilling level, said the government’s news bureau.

“I, along with the PDRRMC and the capitol, are preparing in case there is widespread overflowing of the dam,” he said. “The province of Bulacan is ready to coordinate with the regional director of DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development).”

In other areas of Bulacan, 64 villages in 5 other towns and two cities are also suffering from rising floodwaters. Over 200 families or over 700 persons have been moved to evacuation centers across the province.

Bulacan is one of the areas placed under red alert by PAGASA. The red alert means “serious flooding” is likely in low-lying areas, and more than 3 cm (1.8 in) of rain is expected every hour. – Rappler.com