San Isidro, Nueva Ecija – Three flood control projects worth a total of P178.8 million along the Pampanga River have been completed to reinforce riverbanks and reduce overflow during heavy rains in the towns of San Isidro and Jaen, Nueva Ecija.

Implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Nueva Ecija 2nd District Engineering Office (DEO), the projects aim to safeguard flood-prone communities in the two towns.

According to District Engineer Robert Jay Panaligan, the agricultural town of San Isidro will benefit greatly from two newly completed flood control structures: a 112-linear-meter slope protection in Barangay Calaba and a 159.60-linear-meter protective structure in Barangay Alua, which is part of Phase 2 of the project, with a total cost of P82.8 million.

Panaligan said that San Isidro is home to vast agricultural lands and is known for its thriving rice, corn, and vegetable farming, adding that the two flood control structures will help prevent riverbank erosion and localized flooding, while also supporting agricultural productivity and protecting nearby properties during seasonal rains.

Meanwhile, OIC–Assistant District Engineer Leonora Cruz reported the completion of a P96-million, 331.21-linear-meter riverbank protection project in Barangay San Pablo, Jaen, which involved rehabilitating existing river walls with concrete slope protection and steel sheet piles as the foundation.

“This structure strengthens the embankment and helps reduce the risk of river overflow during heavy rains, as it connects with existing flood protection works to provide added coverage for nearby residents and farmland,” Cruz explained.

Cruz noted that the projects were funded under the 2025 national budget through the Department’s flood control program, reinforcing efforts to reduce flood risks and protect vulnerable communities along the Pampanga River.