00:00 An array of boats are in line as one reaches the entrance of Barangay Antonio in Candaba,
00:07 Pampanga. Residents have their own boats docked nearby. With neck-deep floodwater, residents
00:13 would use a stick and hook to send their goods to the upper floors. Animals were also put
00:19 on the roof to keep them safe. Racing for the flood has been part of the lives of people
00:24 here in Candaba. That is why boats such as this one are already on standby. It is not
00:30 just used for fishing but also for the transportation of residents. Amid the heavy flooding, the
00:37 Salidos refused to leave their home.
00:44 Most of the residents in Candaba opt to guard their homes instead of fleeing to evacuation
00:49 centers. They say they have gotten used to flooding during the rainy season. They admit,
00:55 however, that the water level exceeded their expectations this time. Residents appeal to
01:00 their local officials to solve this perennial problem.
01:14 As local disaster officials say, Candaba is a low-lying area, which serves as a catch
01:20 basin for nearby upstream provinces such as Bulacan and Nueva Ecija.
01:27 As a temporary solution, the local government has created a cut-off channel to divert water
01:41 coming from Pampanga River.
01:48 According to the situational report, all 33 barangays in Candaba are submerged in water.
02:06 However, if the good weather persists, the flood can subside in a week's time.
02:13 For Dima Tulak, CNN Philippines.
