The Bustos Dam in Bulacan released water at a rate of 1,300 cubic meters per second on Monday after reaching its spilling level due to the heavy rains brought by Tropical Storm Enteng, according to a report by Chino Gaston on “24 Oras.”
While the release of water from the dam has impacted Bulacan residents, the resulting floods differ from those directly caused by the storm’s downpour. In Marilao, some residents remain unable to return to their homes due to knee-deep floodwaters.
Zyra David, one of the evacuees from Marilao, shared that some family members chose to stay behind to safeguard their belongings. “They wanted to remain home… They are cleaning and looking after our things,” she explained.
Despite the flooding, the impact was less severe compared to the devastation caused by Typhoon Carina last July. Marilao Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) chief Mark Joseph Guillermo noted a positive change in community response. “We have better results now because unlike during Typhoon Carina, there were people who refused to evacuate. But we have observed that many residents decided to evacuate while the river’s water level was rising,” he said.
However, the flooding is more severe in other areas of Bulacan, including parts of Barangay San Jose in Sta. Maria, where local authorities are working diligently to prevent residents from crossing the floodwaters.
The eastern part of Bulacan remains under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1, as reported by the state weather bureau, PAGASA. Tropical Storm Enteng is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Wednesday morning or afternoon.