PAMPANGA, Philippines - Floods have yet to subside in 273 barangays in 18 towns in Pampanga province.
In Guagua town, residents are using sand bags in an attempt to hold off floodwaters.
In Candaba town, the flooding was aggravated by water hyacinths that have clogged bridges and rivers.
Benny Ocampo, chairman of Barangay Buas in Candaba, said people in the village should join hands to remove the water hyacinths.
The floods have caused around P500 million in damage to infrastructure and around P130 million on farmlands, local disaster officials said.
Around 88,000 families have also been affected.
Officials estimate that it could take another week for the floods to subside.
Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda said the province wants to buy heavy equipment to desilt rivers to solve the floods. - ANC