Pampanga, Bulacan typhoon victims receive relief goods from PGMA

Manila (20 October) — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo led the distribution of relief goods to residents of this Pampanga and Bulacan who were severely affected by the recent typhoons.

The Chief Executive first went to Sta. Maria, Bulacan, where she started the government’s relief caravan and then proceeded to Barangay San Juan of San Simon, Pampanga to provide relief assistance to her Cabalens, who have been the victims of perennial flooding.

Together with San Simon Mayor Rodrigo Canlas and other local officials, the Chief Executive also went to nearby Barangay San Pedro to continue the distribution of relief packs to her provincemates whose houses were submerged in floodwaters as high as six feet.

A total of six barangays in this municipality experienced severe flooding at the height of typhoon “Pepeng,” affecting some 6,830 families or 33,857 persons.

Roman Punzalan, a 60-year-old farmer, narrated how the two recent typhoons damaged their rice crops which were ready for harvest.

“Nasira ang aming mga pananim at maging ang aming bahay ay nabaha rin (Our crops were destroyed and our house was also affected by floodwater),” Punzalan said.

He said the floodwater reached more than five feet in depth, making banca as their only mode of transportation.

“I would like to thank the President for the relief goods. This would help us a lot,” he said in Kapampangan dialect.

In her visit to Bulacan earlier today, residents of six barangays in Sta. Maria town benefitted from the government’ relief caravan launched by the President. (PIA-MMIO)