MASANTOL, Pampanga, Philippines – Governor Lilia Pineda appealed to President Benigno Simeon Aquino III for the immediate assistance for the people of Pampanga who have been severely affected by "Pedring" and ‘Quiel’ as most parts of the province’s fourth district are still under 10 to 12 feet of floodwaters.

The Governor, who has been going the rounds of affected municipalities since day one of typhoon "Pedring," said that most of the villages in the eight municipalities of Pampanga particularly San Luis, Candaba, Macabebe, Masantol, Apalit and San Simon still remain inundated very deep floods.

This small fishing town’s seafood industry was also severely affected as all fishponds and seafood farms in the island barangays overflowed during the onslaught of "Pedring."

All the 26 barangays of this town have remained flooded since the onset of the rains of Typhoon "Pedring."

Masantol Mayor Peter Flores described the situation as “the worst flood in the history of our town.”

Official reports from the Pampanga Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) show that typhoons "Pedring" and "Quiel" have affected 99,950 families or a total of 458,045 in Pampanga.

The governor said that more relief goods are needed by the “hungry” victims staying at the evacuation centers in the province.

To date, the province has 62 evacuation centers which provide temporary shelters to 2,311 affected-families or 7, 506 persons.

Pineda said that she is very much optimistic that the President will favorably act on the appeal of his Cabalens at the soonest possible time, although she is not her political ally.

Governor Pineda is a known close ally of former President and now Pampanga 2nd District Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“Nakakaawa po ang ating mga kabalen sa evacuation centers. Kailangan nila ng mabilis na tulong,” she said.

Pineda also requested President Aquino to order the urgent dredging of the Pampanga River and mouth of Pampanga Bay in Masantol town to minimize the widespread flooding and its adverse effects in the fourth district towns of the province.

“This is the only solution we can see to prevent perennial flooding and lessen the damages brought by the rampant flooding in the fourth district,” said Pineda as she added that the sea level is higher than the river in nearby areas, thus, the floodwater subsides slowly.

The entire stretch of Pampanga River is heavily silted and the riverbanks particularly the Arnedo Dike is fast deteriorating, it being more than 70 years old.

The dredging of more than 50-kilometer Pampanga River is estimated to cost millions of pesos.

Meanwhile, the provincial government, concerned local government units, Department of Social Welfare and Development and non-government organizations have been conducting massive rescue and relief operations in affected municipalities throughout the province.

In addition, the governor, in her personal capacity, has given more than P2 million worth of assorted relief goods to the typhoon victims.

The number of totally damaged houses has reached 25,372 while 826 are partially damaged, PDRRMC Pampanga said.

In Apalit town, people residing at flooded areas have sought temporary shelter along the banks of the Arayat-Apalit setback levee.

In Sta. Ana, Mayor Rommel Concepcion said the extent of damages of typhoon "Pedring" in his municipality may reach millions of pesos. Thousands of residents are also staying at evacuation centers because of high flood water after the San Agustin creek was damaged causing up to chest-deep flood.

Meanwhile, in Bataan, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan has declared the entire province under state of calamity due to the massive damages brought by the two typhoons in its 11 towns and one municipality.

Most of the farms in the province were destroyed by the typhoons, and the farmers were literally left with nothing.

Governor Enrique Garcia said big portions of riceland in Hermosa and Dinalupihan towns are still submerged in water.

Garcia said the province has lost millions in agriculture and infrastructures.