CITY OF MALOLOS — During the Central Luzon briefing led by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. at the Session Hall of the Pampanga Provincial Capitol, the Province of Bulacan, through the partial assessment submitted by Governor Daniel R. Fernando, reported approximately P135.64 million in damage to agriculture and fisheries, P4.64 million in livestock and poultry losses, and P180 million in infrastructure damage, bringing the total reported damage to P320.28 million as of August 23.
Moreover, eight Bulacan localities remain affected by ongoing flooding, including the City of Malolos, Calumpit, Hagonoy, Bocaue, Balagtas, Paombong, Bulakan, and the City of Meycauayan.
Zambales Governor Hermogenes “Jun” E. Ebdane Jr., Chairperson of the Regional Development Council (RDC) III presented the comprehensive regional report that focused on the widespread impact of the enhanced Southwest Monsoon and Tropical Cyclones Luis, Maymay, and Neneng across Central Luzon, covering updates from affected provinces including Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Bataan, Zambales, and Angeles City.
As part of the RDC III presentation, across Central Luzon, agricultural damage alone reached P933.7 million, affecting 22,647 farmers and fisherfolk across 22,684 hectares, with production losses reaching 27,120.55 metric tons alongside 17,187 lost livestock and poultry.
“Kailangan din nating maunawaan na hindi lang dahil sa problema ng flood control project ang dahilan, kung hindi pati talaga sa lakas ng ulan na hindi pa natin nakita sa kasaysayan ng Pilipinas,” President Marcos said, stressing that climate change must be integrated into the government’s long-term disaster management and infrastructure planning.
To address long-term flood mitigation, the President cited plans to construct five Sabo River Dams to trap sediment and increase water storage for household, industrial, and agricultural use. The administration is also studying a proposed 100-kilometer dike road designed to block coastal waters from Manila Bay.
###
