Floods submerge parts of Bulacan amid Habagat-enhanced rains

Some parts of Bulacan are still submerged in flood waters even after Severe Tropical Storm Enteng exited the country as Southwest Monsoon or Habagat-enhanced rains continue.

According to Mark Salazar’s report in 24 Oras on Thursday, the towns of Marilao, Meycauyan, Balagtas and Guiguinto remain flooded.

Due to the continued wet weather, the swollen Marilao River has become a threat to nearby barangays as it easily overflows.

Making things worse, residents had been enduring four days’ worth of floating garbage from the river.

Meanwhile, some drivers are hesitant to travel along the MacArthur Highway as flood waters have reached above gutter level.

In another part of the province, the Meycauayan River has flooded several parts of the town that shares its name.

Some residents still manage to swim in the river because of its slow current unlike the previous day.

Still, the high water level of the river has left nearby Barangay Lawa submerged.

“Hindi na po umaalis ang tubig,” said resident Gemma Pulyante. “Itong baha ng Enteng na ito, nagtataka kami apat na araw na hindi siya bumababa. Pero nung Carina, isang araw lang, wala na.”

(The flood remains….We are curious why after four days, the water brought by Enteng is still here. But when Typhoon Carina hit, the flood easily subsided after a day.) 

Along a portion of MacArthur Highway in the Wawa district of Balagtas, light vehicles were encountering a hard time passing through due to the flood.

The Macaiban Bridge, which connects the barangays of San Jose Patag and Tumana in Sta. Maria was also not passable due to the high floodwaters.

The Bustos Dam continues to release water at the rate of 522 cubic meters per second and could affect low-lying areas that include the towns of Calumpit, Hagonoy and Paombong.—Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News