JOEL P. MAPILES
As three barangays in this town were submerged into 2-to-3 feet floodwaters, capitol officials led by Attorney Andres Pangilinan, Jr, provincial administrator rushed to the said barangays in coordination with Mayor Rommel “Omeng” Concepcion to ensure the safety of the affected families.
Pangilinan along with Environment and Natural Resources Officer (ENRO) Art Punzalan and General Services Officer (GSO) Royce Pring and the provincial information office has personally inspected the reported flooding in Barangays San Roque, San Agustin and Sto. Rosario caused by the overflowing of Matubig creek.
The provincial officials had brought with them the needed several trucks of filling materials and thousands of empty sacks for the sandbagging operations and for the prevention of further damages to their farm lands and residences as well.
The mayor said several hectares of agricultural lands with ready to harvest palay and corn crops were affected by the floodwaters.
Pangilinan has assured the mayor with provincial government’s support and commitment to augment the assistance to be provided by the municipal government to the said barangays.
He said that Governor Lilia G. Pineda who is currently on an official trip to Korea to look into the welfare of Kapampangans who are currently employed in some companies and factories remains constantly in touched with the officials of the Capitol.
“She is kept abreast with the situation here in the province and she wants that pertinent matters are properly attended to and acted upon,” Pangilinan said.
At the height of the onslaught of super Typhoon Juan in the province last Tuesday, the provincial capitol officials also monitored the situation in various flood-prone areas especially in the towns of Arayat and San Luis.
Along with the residents of the three barangays including the candidates for the forthcoming barangay elections who temporarily put aside their political rivalry, Pangilinan and the other officials of the province joined the rehabilitation efforts.
“It was heartening to note that all sectors joined efforts to ensure the protection of the residents of the three barangays,” Pangilinan said.
Barangay San Agustin has an estimated 500 families, Sto. Rosario, 300 and San Roque, 200.
“Miabe-abe at misanmetung la ngan reting memalen at kelingwan da pa mu ing pamilaban keng daratang a barangay election,” Concepcion happily shared.
The Sangguniang Bayan here is set to convene a special session to discuss the declaration of a state of calamity in the affected barangays, Concepcion ended.
