OCD: Garbage, silt slow down receding of Central Luzon floods

Garbage and silt have been slowing down the receding of floods brought by tropical storm "Falcon" (international code name Meari) in some parts of Central Luzon. Office of the Civil Defense Region 3 Director Edgar Nigel Lontoc said on Wednesday garbage has clogged the drainage systems in some areas in Pampanga. "Baka ngayon medyo bumaba nang husto pero ang bagal ng pagbaba, maraming causes. May nagtapon ng basura, barado ang drainage," Lontoc said in an interview on dzBB radio. In certain areas in Pampanga like Guagua, Sto. Tomas and Candaba, silt in Pampanga River have been slowing down the receding of floods, Lontoc said. Meanwhile, in Bulacan, floods have already receded in low-lying areas like Bustos, Calumpit and Meycauayan, he said. Floods have also receded in Nueva Ecija but he said parts of Tarlac may still be flooded due to a damaged earth dike there. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said as of Tuesday, at least five were killed and 14 remain missing because of the storm. - VVP, GMA News