By E.H. EDEJER | August 28, 2026

SAN MARCELINO, Zambales — Government officials are planning to establish a new access road to an upland village here that has remained isolated due to heavy rains and a massive lahar flow from Mount Pinatubo 19 days ago.

According to San Marcelino Mayor Elvis Soria, an alternative route is being considered to connect Barangay Sta. Fe to Barangay Omaya in San Narciso town as a long-term measure to save the isolated barangay.

Sta. Fe, which is located along the Sto. Tomas River lahar field, became isolated on August 9 when the river overflowed and swept away the bridge connecting its northern and southern areas, trapping some 1,000 residents up north.

Lahar has also inundated the village, burying at least six houses in silt and sand and partly submerging the barangay hall and school buildings.

Soria said the proposed Sta. Fe-Omaya link will provide a safer access to and from the isolated village and allow for speedy response and assistance in times of emergency.

“There is a need to come up with measures that will not only provide immediate relief to residents, but will also help the community recover in the long run,” said Soria following consultations with Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. and residents led by Barangay Chairman Rico Diego Arquero.

Ebdane visited the area last Saturday, August 22, to assess the situation and survey alternative routes to the lahar-stricken barangay.

Omaya, which is the easternmost barangay in San Narciso, lies some 12 kilometers away from Sta. Fe in straight-line distance, with the rugged foothills of Sta. Fe’s 657-meters high Mt. Pimmayong separating the neighbor villages.

Soria said the San Marcelino LGU will consult with the Department of Public Works and Highways to study the feasibility of the proposed new route.

After the barangay bridge was swept away by strong river current on August 9, only the southern part, where the barangay hall and Sta. Fe National High School are located, became accessible through a route on the Sto Tomas lahar field.

The northern area, where the Sta. Fe Elementary School and most of the houses are, was isolated.

Right now, food and other basic supplies provided by government agencies and private donors had to be ferried on backhoes to resupply residents across the river.

Residents who had to leave the community for errands elsewhere also had to hitch a ride on these mechanized vehicles.

On Wednesday, August 26, Sta. Fe residents led by Arquero began constructing a temporary footbridge to link the northern and southern parts of the village, driving wooden posts into the river with the use of a backhoe.

The temporary footbridge remains to be the highest priority measure to restore access to Sta. Fe, the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) said on Wednesday.

The still unfinished structure, however, came under heavy pressure from strong current as habagat rains continued after a slight break on August 26.

Heavy rains also forced the LGU to cancel on Friday, August 28, the distribution of relief goods meant for Sta. Fe as it was not safe to undertake the resupply, Mayor Soria said. ▲