President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday visited Pampanga, which has been placed under a State of Calamity, to assess the massive flooding affecting more than a million residents in the province amid a series of weather disturbances.

The President attended a situation briefing with national government agencies and local government officials at the Provincial Capitol in Barangay Sto. Niño, San Fernando, Pampanga, where officials presented the latest situation and ongoing relief and flood-control efforts.

Based on the latest consolidated report of the 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.

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.

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,” said Marcos.

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, 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 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.

Marcos said the government would continue monitoring the situation, noting that the flooding crisis has not yet ended.

Among the long-term flood mitigation measures discussed during the briefing were dredging works, Phase 2 of the Pampanga Delta Development Project, construction of the Central Luzon Pampanga River Floodway and Rio Chico Control Structure, and the Manila Bay Coastal Defense Dike Project.

Other proposed interventions include the construction of revetments, culverts, detention basins, and dams. Presidential News Desk