With the province now placed under State of Calamity after weeks of being submerged due to heavy rainfall.
On Monday, August 24, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visited Pampanga to assess the impact of the massive flooding that has more than a million residents in the province following a series of weather disturbances that struck Luzon in the past weeks.
These includ Typhoon Maymay, Typhoon Luis, the enhanced southwest monsoon, and the overarching Super El Niño episode.
During a briefing with national government agencies and local government officials at the Provincial Capitol in San Fernando, Marcos met with officials who presented the latest situation and ongoing relief and flood-control efforts.
Based on the latest consolidated report of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) as of 6:00 am on Monday, 253 barangays in 16 local government units (LGUs) have been flooded and it has affected a total of 314,945 families or 1,009,257 individuals.
A total of 3,142 families (11,366 individuals) are currently staying in 197 evacuation centers across 17 LGUs, while another 2,599 families, or 11,575 individuals, have been evacuated outside designated centers in 11 LGUs.
Authorities said flooding was reported in the cities and municipalities of Candaba, Santa Ana, Macabebe, San Simon, Apalit, Guagua, Lubao, Mexico, San Luis, Minalin, Bacolor, Arayat, San Fernando, Magalang, Masantol, Porac, Santo Tomas, and Sasmuan.
Reports also showed that 10 roads, government facilities, and flood-control structures sustained damage. Four houses were totally damaged and 47 were partially damaged.
Moreover, agricultural losses and damage were estimated at PHP423.84 million, affecting 8,742 farmers and fisherfolk.
The provincial government placed the entire province under a State of Calamity on August 12.
Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda was said to have appealed to the President to immediately approve NIA-initiated projects to mitigate the perennial flooding problem.
“At talagang ramdam na ramdam na napakabigat ang ulan at napakarami ang bumagsak na tubig. Kaya’t na-overwhelm lahat ng ating mga flood control, flood management program,” the President said after the briefing.
He also warned against attributing the flooding solely to shortcomings in flood-control projects as he pointed to the need to consider the impact of climate change in addressing the flooding.
“Hindi lang dahil sa problema ng flood control project, kung hindi pati na sa lakas talaga ng ulan na hindi pa natin nakita sa kasaysayan ng Pilipinas. Ito ay ang naging resulta ng climate change,” Marcos told.
Thus, in the near-term, the government will repair damaged infrastructure, but Marcos underlined the need to carefully assess the situation before undertaking repairs, particularly while floodwaters remain in some areas and weather disturbances continue.
“Kaya medyo kailangan natin na alalayan at bantayan na mabuti na maging effective kung ano man yung gagawin natin ay magiging matibay at hindi mawawala at hindi masisira sa susunod na baha,” he said.
He also mentioned proposals for solutions such as the construction of five dams in Nueva Ecija and a major road project to Bataan to address water coming from the Manila Bay.
The long-term flood mitigation measures discussed during the briefing were dredging works, Phase 2 of the Pampanga Delta Development Project, construction of the Central Luzon Pampanga River Floodway and Rio Chico Control Structure, and the Manila Bay Coastal Defense Dike Project.
The President also said the government remains capable of providing immediate assistance to affected residents, including food, shelter, and health services.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported the provision of PHP243.37 million worth of assistance to affected families.
It also made available P2.63 million in standby funds and 127,947 family food packs at its regional office in Central Luzon.
For its part, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) had been conducting maintenance and declogging operations in drainage systems and waterways in Pampanga.
President Marcos said the government would continue monitoring the situation, noting that the flooding crisis has not yet ended.
“It is still a developing situation. Hindi pa tapos ito. So we will continue to monitor. We will continue to do everything that we can so that we will mitigate the effects of this very strong rain and the flooding that follows it,” the President assured.
AERIAL INSPECTION
On the same day, President Marcos, together with DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon, conducted an aerial inspection of flood-affected areas in Bulacan and Pampanga, where he looked to assess the immediate response and assistance needed from the government by residents in the affected areas.
Dizon also provided updates on ongoing flood-control efforts and proposed long-term solutions as the President saw communities heavily affected by floodwaters.
Marcos also assured the public that the government would continue providing assistance to families affected by the flooding in Bulacan and Pampanga.
EVACTUATION CENTER
Meanwhile, Marcos Jr. also visited an evacuation center in Bacolor, Pampanga, to check on the condition of flood-affected families and oversee the government’s continuing relief and assistance efforts.
The President was accompanied by DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Pampanga Vice Governor Dennis Pineda, Bacolor Mayor Eduardo Datu, and other national and local government officials.
Marcos visited the classrooms serving as evacuation areas and spoke with evacuees before proceeding to the covered court, where the distribution of the PHP10,000 cash assistance to heads of affected families under the DSWD Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program took place.
Before the President’s arrival, the DSWD also distributed family food packs and served hot meals to evacuees through its Mobile Kitchen.
As of August 23, around 216 families, or 836 individuals, were staying at the evacuation center, where they had been accommodated for 16 consecutive days.
Throughout Bacolor, there are currently 11 active evacuation centers serving 559 families or 2,221 individuals.
