OLONGAPO City – Heavy rains and strong winds pummeled this city in the wee hours of the morning today, knocking out electric power and flooding most parts of the city, some as deep as over 3 meters.
Hardest hit as of 6 AM was Bgy. Barretto, East Bajac-Bajac ang Bgy. Sta. Rita where city govt. rescuers and SBMA (Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority) fire and rescue teams had their hands full evacuating residents, mostly women, children and the elderly.
SBMA Fire Chief Rani Magno said he has dispatched rescue teams to Bgy. Barretto and Bgy. Sta. Rita but more calls are coming in.
He said “this flood has exceeded the extent the city suffered last year at about the same period.”
Acting City Mayor Rodel Cerezo has declared classes suspended in all levels, both public and private schools.

Olongapo City's main thoroughfare Rizal Ave. has been under water over a meter deep as of 6AM today, Monday, 23 Sept. 2013. Photo by Freon Ong
City Mayor Rolen C. Paulino is currently in the U.S. on an official trip. (VVV)
Ingat po kayo dyan….
The Mayor should cut his US trip short and fly back to OC to serve his constituents…
Im not an evil advocate, and i know exactly where u coming from, but we must understand, what u want is not that easy, and ur making it hard for them.
Even if he is here he cant do nothing but to mandate his people ( which we all know we have trained ppl like sbma fire dep etc.)this task can be done by counsilors brgy captain and vice mayor, and by what u r saying , u unconciously tell our vicee mayor he cant do the task alone, -im pretty sure eventhough mayor of this city is not here, they contact him , Im not fighting w/ u sister or brother I just want u to realize , that u dont have to say those things coz its not helping.
sa totoo lang po papuri sa mga taong taga lingkod ng pamahalaan ng olongapo,sa mga mamamayan na handang tumulong at magmalasakit sa kapwa at yung mga taong hindi kelangang matulog ng mahimbing. at higit sa lahat maraming salamat sa mga taong hindi palahanap ng presensiya ng bawat isa! sibilyan ka man,baragay kapitan ,sk ka man,or kagawad, at bise iyon po ay lahat eh mahalaga lalo na ang mayor natin.pero po sana eh iyong hanapin mo pa ang presensiya ng wala po dito eh wag na po sanang gawin! dahil po iyong mga naiwan eh hindi po magpapabaya ng kanilang mga tungkulin at maaasahan po silang lahat sa tulong ng mga taong nasa paligid na rin nila na may mabubuting kalooban. SALAMAT PO AT GOD BLESS PO.
After seeing the pictures and the news dyan sa Olongapo at Subic I don’t really know what to say…. except….May god be with you all at sana sa mga pag subok na ito ni Lord ay lalo kayong gabayan at pag palain naman sa mga susunod na araw……GOD BLESS YOU ALL…..
A strong person/leader needs to step forward, set the example for the people to following.