SEN. Erwin Tulfo is seeking an investigation into the massive and recurring flooding in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, following reports that the recent heavy rains displaced thousands of families there.
“Almost 100 families or more than 200 individuals were rescued by the Coast Guard in one town in Puerto Princesa City because their houses were submerged in flood,” Tulfo said.
He was referring to reports that the Coast Guard rescued around 100 families in a single area in Puerto Princesa City. He added that around 6,000 families from 31 barangays across the city have been displaced in the past months due to the same reason
Last February, he said Puerto Princesa City was placed under a state of calamity after being inundated by heavy flooding, even in the absence of a typhoon, but it was caused by a “shear line” or sudden change in wind direction.
“The people of Palawan would want to know why it is so quick for floods to submerge their communities. Don’t they have a reliable drainage system? Is it because of failed urban planning? Are there illegal operations on logging and mining that washed out their natural flood barrier?” he added.
