Floods affect 70,000 Olongapo residents

Heavy rains plaguing the western section of the country has affected 70,000 residents in Olongapo City in Zambales, leading to suspension of classes in schools at all levels. Olangapo Mayor James “Bong" Gordon Jr. said he suspended classes Tuesday in the entire city after a river that passes through it overflowed, aggravated by high tides, causing neck-deep floods in at least six villages. Some residents were forced to move to the second floor of their houses, while others were evacuated to the Olongapo City National High School. Residents of neighboring Botolan town, also in Zambales, were forced to flee their homes after a number of rivers nearby also overflowed. The inclement weather has also damaged three bridges, isolating half of Botolan’s population. The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority has deployed rescue teams to assist residents. The incessant rains, attributed by weather forecasters to the southwest monsoon, closed portions of the national highway connecting Central Luzon to Cagayan Valley region on Monday night. Sections of the highway in Santa Fe town in Nueva Vizcaya and Carranglan town in Nueva Ecija were closed due to mud and other sediment left by floods. Chief Superintendent Roberto Damian, Cagayan Valley police regional director, said a team of engineers from the Department of Public Works and Highways has already cleared the road for motorists. In Manila, afternoon classes in elementary and high school in five villages in Malabon were also suspended Tuesday due to floods. Mark Merueñas, GMANews.TV