MARILAO, Bulacan — Forced evacuations were carried out in several barangays in Marilao early Saturday, August 29, as relentless southwest monsoon rains pushed floodwaters into vulnerable communities — while weather and disaster officials warned that conditions across Bulacan could worsen before they improve.
ABS-CBN News reported that forced evacuation operations were already underway in several Marilao barangays as of around 2 a.m. Saturday, following flooding caused by persistent rains associated with the southwest monsoon, or Habagat.
The timing was particularly critical.
At 2 a.m., PAGASA placed Marilao and numerous other Bulacan municipalities under a red rainfall warning, the highest rainfall alert level, indicating a serious threat of flooding in flood-prone and low-lying communities. Marilao remained among the Bulacan areas under the red warning at 5 a.m.
And the threat had not disappeared by sunrise.
Marilao Still Under Red Rainfall Warning at 8 A.M.
By 8 a.m. Saturday, PAGASA was still placing Marilao, Meycauayan, Obando, Bocaue, Balagtas and a long list of other Bulacan localities under the red rainfall warning.
The warning covered much of the province’s heavily populated and flood-prone southern and central corridor, including Pulilan, Baliuag, Calumpit, Hagonoy, Paombong, Malolos, Bulakan, Guiguinto, Plaridel, Santa Maria, Pandi and Bustos.
That means the forced evacuations in Marilao were taking place against a wider weather emergency, rather than an isolated episode of street flooding.
PAGASA’s Saturday forecast said the southwest monsoon would continue bringing rain over Luzon, with occasional rains expected in Bulacan and several surrounding provinces.
Bulacan Officials: Water From Higher Areas Is Rushing Downstream
The bigger concern is what happens after the rain falls.
Bulacan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office chief Manuel Lukban Jr. said water coming from higher terrain was rapidly flowing toward downstream communities.
Officials were closely monitoring the Angat, Meycauayan, Marilao and Santa Maria river systems, where strong currents had been observed following the overnight rains. Lukban warned that water levels in areas already experiencing flooding could rise further.
GMA News reported that six Bulacan municipalities remained flooded Saturday morning, including Hagonoy, Calumpit, Balagtas and Paombong, as authorities prepared for another combination of monsoon rain and high tide.
That combination is particularly dangerous in low-lying Bulacan communities: heavy rain can increase runoff from upstream areas while high tide can slow the movement of floodwater toward Manila Bay.
For residents of Marilao, the result can mean that even after rainfall temporarily weakens, floodwaters may not immediately recede.
Ipo Dam Also Releasing Water — But Not Directly Into Marilao
Another complication across Bulacan came from Ipo Dam in Norzagaray, which began releasing excess water Friday night as continuous rainfall pushed up reservoir levels.
Officials said an initial gate opening would release an estimated 35 cubic meters of water per second. PAGASA said further releases could occur depending on rainfall over the watershed.
However, it is important not to incorrectly blame Marilao’s flooding on the Ipo Dam release.
Areas identified as directly vulnerable to Ipo releases are along the Angat River system, including municipalities such as Angat, Bustos, San Rafael, Baliwag, Plaridel, Pulilan, Calumpit, Paombong and Hagonoy, as well as Malolos. Marilao was not among the areas listed in that specific advisory.
Marilao’s immediate threat is instead closely tied to heavy local rainfall, drainage and river conditions, including the Marilao River.
Marilao Was Already Facing Questions Over River Protection
The latest flooding also comes less than three weeks after a newly completed ₱5-million river wall in Barangay Prenza II collapsed amid another round of monsoon rains.
GMA News reported that the structure had been completed only in June before part of it failed on August 10. Residents raised concerns about the project, while contractor JB Construction denied that substandard construction was responsible and said water-saturated soil had placed excessive pressure on the structure.
Marilao Mayor Jemina Sy subsequently ordered an investigation.
The local government has clarified that the Prenza II structure was intended for riverbank protection and soil-erosion control, rather than being a DPWH flood-control project. The contractor was expected to undertake repairs without additional cost to the municipal government.
There is no verified evidence at this point linking that collapsed wall to Saturday’s forced evacuations, but the episode highlights the broader vulnerability of communities situated beside Marilao’s waterways.
Why the Next Few Hours Matter
Forced evacuation is typically undertaken when officials determine that remaining in a threatened community poses an unacceptable safety risk, particularly where floodwaters are rising, currents are strong or access routes could become impassable.
Saturday’s situation therefore depends on more than whether the rain visibly stops.
Authorities are watching rainfall upstream, river levels, the movement of runoff toward downstream communities and the effect of high tide on already saturated areas.
With Marilao still under a red rainfall warning as of 8 a.m., residents in flood-prone communities were being urged to closely follow official local government and PAGASA advisories and comply immediately with evacuation instructions.
For families already leaving their homes before dawn, the question now is not simply when the rain will stop.
It is whether Bulacan’s rivers and drainage systems can carry away the water fast enough before another round arrives.
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