Marcos orders long-term flood plan for Pampanga

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday called for comprehensive, long-term flood control measures in Pampanga as widespread flooding continued to affect nearly 1 million people across the province.

Marcos met with Pampanga Gov. Lilia “Nanay” Pineda at the Provincial Capitol in the City of San Fernando on 24 August to assess the situation and discuss the government’s response.

Pineda briefed the President on conditions across the province, which remains under a state of calamity following successive tropical cyclones and an enhanced southwest monsoon.

Marcos was accompanied by Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon and DSWD Regional Director Venus Rebuldela.

Pampanga Vice Gov. Dennis “Delta” Pineda, Bacolor Mayor Diman Datu and Vice Mayor Ron Dungca also attended the briefing.

More than 311,000 families, or around 1 million people, have been affected across 380 barangays in 21 cities and municipalities.

Continuous heavy rains, high tides and the overflowing of the Pampanga River have inundated low-lying and coastal communities, with floodwaters reaching as high as 14 feet in some areas.

Among the hardest-hit areas are Guagua, with 90,937 affected residents; Macabebe, with 85,257; San Simon, with 80,791; Candaba, with 79,842; and Masantol, with 68,626, according to the Pampanga Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

Marcos also visited evacuation centers and affected communities during his visit to the province.

The DSWD has initially distributed family food packs to 2,700 families, including 950 in Barangay San Nicolas, 1,100 in Barangay San Pedro and 650 in Barangay Santa Lucia.

Following the situation briefing, Marcos directed government agencies to pursue comprehensive and long-term flood control master plans to address Pampanga’s recurring flooding.