President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. conducted an on-site inspection in Bacolor, Pampanga, on Monday, August 24, to assess the condition of residents displaced by persistent flooding and to review ongoing government relief measures.
During his visit to the Bacolor Integrated School Evacuation Center in Barangay Cabambangan, the President directly engaged with affected residents and observed the distribution of ₱10,000 in emergency cash relief.
The financial assistance was provided to family heads under the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program.
As of August 23, the temporary shelter was housing 216 families—comprising 836 individuals—who had been displaced for 16 consecutive days. DSWD teams had previously deployed Mobile Kitchens to serve hot meals and distributed family food packs prior to the President’s arrival.
Municipal records show Bacolor currently manages 11 operational evacuation centers, providing shelter to a total of 559 families, or 2,221 individuals.
Marcos was accompanied by Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Pampanga Vice Governor Dennis Pineda, Bacolor Mayor Eduardo Datu, alongside other national and provincial leaders.
DSWD data indicates that the combined impact of the enhanced southwest monsoon and tropical cyclones Luis, Maymay, and Neneng affected 315,807 families (approximately 1.01 million individuals) across Pampanga. State shelters across the province continue to house 3,118 families, or 11,308 individuals.
Widespread inundation was documented in multiple municipalities, damaging government facilities, flood-control structures, and 10 major road networks. Four residential houses were completely destroyed, while 47 suffered partial damage. Agricultural losses were valued at ₱423.84 million, impacting 8,742 farmers and fisherfolk, which led provincial authorities to place Pampanga under a state of calamity on August 12.
To cushion the impact, the DSWD has disbursed ₱243.37 million in relief aid and maintains ₱2.63 million in standby funds alongside 127,947 family food packs at its Regional Field Office III. Supplementary relief supplies are prepositioned at DSWD Disaster Resource Centers to support Central Luzon as required.
In tandem with short-term relief, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) proposed several long-term infrastructure interventions to manage regional flooding.
Key proposals include targeted dredging operations, Phase 2 of the Pampanga Delta Development Project, the Central Luzon Pampanga River Floodway, the Rio Chico Control Structure, and the Manila Bay Coastal Defense Dike Project spanning Metro Manila, Bulacan, Pampanga, and Bataan, alongside constructing retention basins, dams, culverts, and revetments.