Residents use makeshift floaters, boats to wade through flood in provinces

As the southwest monsoon continues to ravage several areas in the country, some residents turned to makeshift floaters and boats for rescue operations.

According to Emil Sumangil's "24 Oras" report, Coast Guard members in Bagac, Bataan were very careful in carrying children and other residents on board a makeshift floater as the floodwaters already reached the roof of homes.

Over 70 residents in Barangay Pag-asa in Bagac were rescued and moved to evacuation centers as the Habagat dumped heavy rains over these areas.

In Hermosa, Bataan, only the roofs can be seen as houses were already submerged by the flood.

Glenly Moje, chief of Hermosa's disaster risk response department, said flooding was exacerbated by the river system in Bataan.

"It is a catch basin of some river system here in Bataan. So if we have heavy rainfall, water goes to Almacen River," he said in Filipino.

Gutter-deep flood was witnessed in Balanga, Bataan which also affected the Cathedral and Parish of St. Joseph.

The streets along St. Joseph Medical Center in Balanga were also flooded, which are not passable to light vehicles. This forced commuters to walk along the flooded road.

Data from Bataan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office showed that Habagat destroyed P31.5 million worth of rice plants, P760,000 worth of corn, P1.2 million worth of high-value crops and P11.2 million worth of fisheries.

In Oriental Mindoro, villages were still ravaged by floods despite barely recovering from the heavy rainfall last week.

Aside from residents, some farm animals were also evacuated to maintain residents' livelihood in San Juan, Abra.

A highway along Botanical Garden in Baguio City was also damaged due to the impact of Habagat.

Five barangays in Zamboanga del Sur also remained submerged in floodwaters.

State of calamity in Pampanga

Residents in Macabebe, Pampanga also experienced flood waters, prompting the local government to declare a state of calamity.

Based on Ian Cruz's "24 Oras" report, all villages in Macabebe are suffering from flooding due to high tide and incessant rains.

Since roads are not passable to light vehicles, residents use boats to get to their destination.

Because of the inclement weather, more than 400 individuals fled their homes in Macabebe.

Aside from Macabebe, 25 villages in Masantol, Pampanga were also submerged by floods.

Balagtas folk suffer from flood despite no rainfall

Rainfall has stopped in Balagtas, Bulacan but residents in Barangay Wawa are still bearing the brunt of waist-deep flood in their area.

Interviewed over Mariz Umali's "24 Oras" report, Catherine Cereza, lamented that lack of transportation hinders them from going to hospitals in case of medication. Cereza's relative is suffering from convulsion, who is still staying at their home.

A businessman, Rod Boado, said  he could not earn income since his customers could not go to his shop amid the flood.

"Ilang beses kami nagreklamo, wala namang solusyon (We've been asking for help from the government but until now, they are not giving us a solution.)," said Boado.

Figures from National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) showed that four people were killed while six were injured due to accidents brought about by the Habagat.—Consuelo Marquez/LDF, GMA News