BY JOEL P. MAPILES
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — Vice Governor Dennis Pineda together with the members of the provincial board and Angelina Blanco, head of the provincial disaster risk reduction management office (PDRRMO) led the distribution of relief goods to affected coastal barangays after typhoon Glenda wrecked their fishponds in the towns of Sasmuan, Masantol and Lubao.
In Masantol, the vice governor was joined Board Member Ricardo Yabut in the relief distribution in barangays Sapang Kawayan which was given 796 relief goods; Alauli, 249; Balibago, 471; Bagang, 442; Sagrada, 356 and Nigui, 499 with a total of 2,300 relief packs.
In Sasmuan, Board Member Anthony Joseph Torres joined the vice governor in the provision of relief assistance in Barangays Batang 1st which was given 110 relief goods; Batang 2nd, 519 and Mabuan, 368.
Another coastal Barangay, Bangkal Pugad in Lubao town was given 443 relief goods benefiting same number of affected families.
Most of the affected families suffered from damages as their fishponds were hit by the recent typhoon Glenda.
In totality, the local officials in Pampanga heaved a sigh of relief after Typhoon Glenda just sideswiped the province, with zero reported flooding and no major damages to infrastructure and agriculture.
Blanco said the no areas in the two cities and 19 municipalities were flooded.
In Arayat town, some 52 families from Arayat were evacuated to the national park clubhouse and have been provided with relief goods by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office headed by Elizabeth Baybayan.
Blanco said they are still on alert and will do further assessment in the coming days. “ It good to note that our local officials are following disaster protocol. Our mitigation infrastructure like our tail dike also worked,” she said.
Blanco added that every measure and contingency is still in place to ensure the safety of our kabalens.
