CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro — The central town of Pinamalayan in the second district of the province has recommended the declaration of state of calamity after several barangay (villages) were flooded due to incessant rains since Wednesday, the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) said.

In a telephone interview, MDRRMO officer Marlo Rosales said that the disaster council recommended to the Sangguniang Bayan (Municipal Council) the declaration of a state of calamity as 29 villages were submerged in floodwaters after the heavy rains brought by a low pressure area and southwest monsoon or habagat.

"We had a full council meeting which was also attended by members of the municipal council and approved a resolution recommending the declaration of a state of calamity so in essence, sans the formality of a regular session on Monday of the town council, the town is now in a state of calamity," Rosales said.

In a consolidated report, a copy of which was furnished to The Manila Times, Rosales said that as of Saturday, the MDRRMO has identified eight evacuation centers with 928 families or 3,021 individuals.

Rosales said 12,930 more families or 46,980 individuals have also been displaced by flood but are not staying in evacuation centers. He said some went to their relatives or friends living on higher ground.

The total of the affected families are 13,501 or 50,001 individuals.

In his social media page, Pinamalayan Mayor Aris Baldos posted on Saturday a copy of the resolution of the MDRRMO "recommending the declaration of Municipality of Pinamalayan under the state of calamity due to low pressure area and the southwest monsoon that resulted to massive flooding in the entire municipality."

In the same post, Baldos said that after getting the reports from the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office, Municipal Health Office, Municipal Agriculture Office and Municipal Engineering Office on the extent of the flooding, he as chairman of the disaster council, officially recommends the declaration of a state of calamity.

As of this writing, heavy rains continue to pound the province, and the weather bureau said heavy rains and thunderstorms are expected later in the day.

Residents are reminded to remain alert and vigilant for possible flash floods and landslides.

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