CITY OF MALOLOS — Climate change and unprecedented rainfall are primary drivers behind the severe flooding in Central Luzon, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. emphasized, noting that the crisis cannot be blamed solely on flood-control projects as the region assesses hundreds of millions in losses.
The President made the statement during a high-level regional situation briefing at the Pampanga Provincial Capitol in San Fernando, Pampanga, where Zambales Governor Hermogenes “Jun” E. Ebdane Jr., Chairperson of the Regional Development Council (RDC) III, presented the comprehensive regional report.
The briefing focused on the widespread impact of the enhanced Southwest Monsoon and Tropical Cyclones Luis, Maymay, and Neneng across Central Luzon.
“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,” Marcos said, stressing that climate change must be integrated into the government’s long-term disaster management and infrastructure planning.
As part of the RDC III presentation, Bulacan’s partial assessment as submitted by Gov. Daniel R. Fernando, showed approximately P135.64 million in damage to agriculture and fisheries, P4.64 million in livestock and poultry losses, and P180 million in infrastructure damage—totaling 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.
The regional assessment covered updates from Pampanga, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Bataan, Zambales, and Angeles City.
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.
To address long-term flood mitigation, President Marcos 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.
