SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga (August 24, 2026) — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday said the government has identified immediate, medium, and long-term measures to avert flooding in Central Luzon, particularly in the province of Pampanga, which has been placed under a State of Calamity because of massive flooding.

He said these will begin with the repair of infrastructure and other facilities damaged by the flooding, dredging works, construction of river dams, and the long-term flood mitigation measures that include the Manila Bay Coastal Defense Dike Project.

“Sa immediate term, siyempre ayusin natin yung mga nasira at papabalikan natin lahat ng mga nasira. Yun ang pinaka immediate na kailangan gawin, madalian para matapos ulit,” the President noted.

However, the President said the government also needs 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,” President Marcos.

Sabo Dams

Among the projects discussed during the briefing was the proposed construction of five Sabo River dams in Nueva Ecija, which President Marcos said could help slow the flow of water, reduce siltation, and provide additional water for domestic, industrial, and agricultural use.

“Isang project for Sabo River Dams, lima kaagad sa Nueva Ecija dahil ito’y kumukuha sa tubig sa taas. Sierra Madre na yung pinagkukuhanan ng tubig at yan ay makakatulong para bawasan ang bilis ng pagbaba ng tubig, mabawasan ng siltation, at makakapag-ipon pa tayo ng tubig para gamitin for household use, industrial, for irrigation sa agrikultura,” the President said.

In the longer term, President Marcos said the government is also studying a major road project extending toward Bataan that could be part of a broader strategy to address water issues from Manila Bay.

The President mentioned the flood-control projects after a situation briefing with national government agencies and local government officials on Monday, August 24, at the Provincial Capitol in San Fernando, Pampanga.

Present at the briefing were DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Education Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara Jr., DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon, Interior and Local Government Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla, Acting Labor Secretary Francis N. Tolentino, Acting Environment Secretary Juan Miguel T. Cuna, Department of National Defense Senior Undersecretary Irineo C. P. Espino, National Irrigation Administration Administrator Eduardo G. Guillen, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, Cabinet Secretary Benhur C. Abalos Jr., and Special Assistant to the President Antonio Ernesto F. Lagdameo Jr.

Also present were Governors Jose Enrique S. Garcia III of Bataan, Daniel R. Fernando of Bulacan, Aurelio M. Umali of Nueva Ecija, Lilia G. Pineda of Pampanga, Christian Tell A. Yap of Tarlac, and Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr. of Zambales.

The President’s visit came as the national and local governments continued to coordinate relief, rehabilitation, and flood-control measures in Pampanga and other parts of Central Luzon affected by the enhanced southwest monsoon and recent tropical cyclones.

Pampanga Situation

Based on the latest consolidated report of the Pampanga Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) as of 6 a.m. Monday, 253 barangays in 16 local government units (LGUs) have been flooded, affecting 314,945 families or 1,009,257 individuals.

A total of 3,142 families, or 11,366 individuals, are currently staying in 197 evacuation centers across 17 LGUs, while another 2,599 families, or 11,575 individuals, have evacuated outside designated centers in 11 LGUs.

The provincial government said the flooding was caused by the combined effects of Super El Niño, Typhoon Maymay, Typhoon Luis and the enhanced southwest monsoon.

The provincial government placed the entire province under a State of Calamity on August 12.

Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda appealed to the President to immediately approve NIA-initiated projects to mitigate the perennial flooding problem, saying the water came from all neighboring provinces, including Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, and even Bulacan.

Overwhelming Rainfall

After the briefing, President Marcos said the volume of rainfall had overwhelmed existing flood-control and flood-management measures, while cautioning against attributing the flooding solely to shortcomings in flood-control projects.

“Kakatapos lang namin yung briefing tungkol sa flooding situation sa Region 3. 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 told reporters.

The President also 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,” the President said.

Relief Efforts

The President said the government remains capable of providing immediate assistance to affected residents, including food, shelter, and health services.

“I’m satisfied that yung immediate needs ng tao, yung kanilang pagkain, yung kanilang shelter, yung health care na talagang pamahalaan ng national government, tayo nandyan lahat,” the President said.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has provided P243.37 million worth of assistance to affected families and made available P2.63 million in standby funds and 127,947 family food packs at its regional office in Central Luzon.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), meanwhile, has 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,” President Marcos assured. – PND