62 towns in CLuzon, nation’s rice granary, still flooded
62 towns in CLuzon, nation’s rice granary, still flooded
GMANews.TV – Wednesday, October 14Three days after Typhoon Pepeng exited Philippine territory, vast areas in central Luzon remain flooded, with the nation’s leading palay-producing province, Nueva Ecija, suffering from the most widespread flooding. Arayat town in Pampanga province – without the media attention directed at other towns – is enduring the deepest floodwaters, up to seven feet. Data culled by GMA News Research from the Regional Office of Civil Defense for Central Luzon showed that as of Tuesday 23 out of Nueva Ecija’s 32 towns, or nearly 72 percent, are still dealing with floods, although the waters are less than a foot deep or not as bad as those in adjacent towns of nearby provinces. Mapping by GMA News Research. Labeled towns have the deepest floodwaters.
In 2008, Nueva Ecija topped the nation in rice production with 1,372,378 metric tons, more than 300,000 metric tons more than second leading producer Isabela. Nueva Ecija also led the nation in onion production. A close study of the map shows that the provinces of Tarlac, Pampanga, and Bulacan still have a total of 11 towns that are submerged in at least two feet of water.
These include the towns of Arayat, Bacolor, Masantol, San Luis, Macabebe and Sto. Tomas in Pampanga; La Paz, Paniqui, Moncada and San Manuel in Tarlac province; and Calumpit in Bulacan province.
Tarlac is the country’s seventh leading rice producer with over a half million metric tons in 2008.
In Pampanga, Arayat town suffered the worst flooding, with five of its barangays (villages) submerged in six to seven-foot deep floodwaters. This was followed by Bacolor and Masantol towns.
In Bulacan, Calumpit town was flooded by at least four feet, while in Tarlac, La Paz town remained submerged in at least three feet.
Meanwhile, floods in the following areas (orange) have already receded: Palayan City, Nueva Ecija; Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija; Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija; Licab, Nueva Ecija; Sta. Ana, Pampanga; and Guagua, Pampanga. The following table shows a summary of the flooded areas in Central Luzon: Data as of 8 a.m., October 13, 2009
“Affected populations” are those in towns where the water may not have been deep, but entered homes and forced people to evacuate. - GMANews.TV with GMA News Research
Indeed the devastating results of the storms affected our major rice suppliers. I t is not far to believe that the prediction of us having shortage of food in the future would be possible. The government should immediately act on this prediction for it can still be resolved. And for us Fellow Filipinoes we should also do our part in resolving this problem by not losing hope especially for our formers that are always doing their jobs in order for us to have food in our tables. Moreover, we the Filipino people and the rest of the world should also do our part for this disaster that indeed affected most of us not to happen again. The prevention that I am talking about is related to the environment for indeed this is the result of us not keeping it in mind. Let as help our fellow people that are keeping this environment the world in general clean and green for our sake and for our future sons and daughters. With this I tell you that the change that this world needs starts with our selves, by doing the right thing, doing what the popular 3R’s meant, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. It is still not too late. Do your part and make a better tomorrow.
Source: http://ph.news.yahoo.com/gma/20091013/tph-62-towns-in-cluzon-nation-s-rice-gra-d6cd5cf.html
