PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES IN HAGONOY

B.1. Flooding and Siltation

The persistent flooding due to the periodic tidal incursion and spontaneous overflow of Pampanga
River is the greatest challenge to the continued progress of the municipality, including in terms of health,
during adverse weather condition such as typhoons. Hagonoy is a tidal flat, which is only 1 to 2 meters
above the mean sea level making it flood prone, the river traversing and flanking the municipality to the
west are sited due to deforestation, and continuous land development and intrusion of the river by the
local residents and illegal settlers. The flooding situation may become worse with the effect of the climate
change on the sea level and more tremendous weather episodes.

During floods, there can be up to 10 inches of water in some areas making it impassable for vehicles
and incapacitating everyday life. Every month for about 4 to 5 days, tidal water enters the drainage canals
and floods the streets, residential areas and commercial centers. Going to school, going to the market or
going to work is interrupted as travel around the town becomes difficult or even impossible. The local
government frequently mobilizes its dump trucks to convey people safety. Most shops and businesses
were closed. Public health is the most important concern of the local government due to the exposure to
polluted water.

Flooding takes place in most parts of Hagonoy, with the exclusion of small elevated portions in the
northeast corner of the town, particularly Barangays Iba, Iba-Ibayo, Carillo and Abulalas. On the other
hand, there are danger zones in the municipality which are prone to high flooding, especially during
typhoons and prolonged rainfall, as well as areas in the Labangan Channel, such as parts of Barangays
San Pedro, Abulalas, Iba, Iba- Ibayo, Sta Elena and Carillo.

One root of flooding is possibly attributed to the level- to nearly- longitudinal gradient of the
Hagonoy and Halang Rivers and their distributaries located in their downstream movements. The coastal
areas and active tidal flats, aside from the accumulated run-off flooding, are also subjected to tidal salt
water flooding during high tide. Flooding predominantly happens during rainy season when heavy rains
come as brought about by the southwest monsoon and typhoons. The environmental hazard is further
aggravated by the siltation of waters and streams, which in turn is perceptible to the rampant denudation
of the forests in the Sierra Madre Mountains.

The siltation could also be the remnants due to the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in nearby Zambalez in
1991. Although the town was not in the close boundary of the Mt. Pinatubo lahar path, the minimum
amount of ash fall that wrapped the sub- regional landscape was enough to cause additional siltation as
portion of the ejected materials were carried by the Pampanga River system of tributaries and
distributaries to Hagonoy.

The foremost damage caused by salinity, or the deposition of excess salt in the soil, is a diminution of
availability of water. Flooding has also been exacerbated by the malpractice of throwing solid waste into
the rivers and on their shores.