BULACAN/PAMPANGA — Residents in flood-hit parts of Bulacan and Pampanga are facing the threat of worsening flooding as the southwest monsoon, or Habagat, continues to bring heavy rain while high tide and rising river levels add pressure to already inundated communities.
The situation remained critical on Saturday, August 29, with PAGASA placing Pampanga and several areas of Bulacan under a red rainfall warning, meaning serious flooding is possible in flood-prone areas.
In Bulacan, authorities said several municipalities remained flooded, with Hagonoy, Calumpit, Balagtas and Paombong among the affected areas.
Bulacan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office chief Ret. Col. Manuel Lukban Jr. warned that water levels in downstream communities could rise further as heavy rain continues to send large volumes of water from higher areas toward the province.
The province is closely monitoring major waterways, including the Angat, Meycauayan, Marilao and Sta. Maria rivers, where strong currents have been observed following heavy rainfall in upstream areas.
High tide adds another threat
The flooding problem is being compounded by high tide.
Low-lying communities in Bulacan have limited ability to drain floodwaters when water levels in Manila Bay are elevated. This can cause water from rivers and surrounding areas to back up, prolonging flooding even when rainfall temporarily eases.
Earlier reports also documented how Bulacan has been receiving floodwater from multiple directions, including high tide, tributaries and backflow from the Pampanga River basin.
The combination is particularly dangerous for downstream communities that are already saturated and have little room for additional water.
Ipo Dam begins releasing excess water
The situation in Bulacan became even more closely watched after Ipo Dam in Norzagaray began releasing excess water Friday evening as its reservoir level rose above its normal high-water level.
According to GMA News, the initial operation involved opening one radial gate by 15 centimeters, resulting in an estimated discharge of about 35 cubic meters per second.
Authorities informed affected and potentially vulnerable local governments, including Angat, Bustos, San Rafael, Baliwag, Plaridel, Pulilan, Calumpit, Paombong, Hagonoy and Malolos City.
PAGASA hydrologist Richard Orendain said additional gates could potentially be opened if rainfall continues over the dam’s watershed.
Residents in low-lying and flood-prone communities were urged to remain alert and closely monitor official advisories.
Forced evacuations reported in Marilao
The worsening conditions have already prompted emergency action.
ABS-CBN reported that forced evacuations were carried out in several barangays in Marilao, Bulacan, early Saturday as flooding continued amid persistent rains.
The development underscores the increasing danger faced by communities where floodwaters are rising faster than residents can safely respond.
Authorities have repeatedly urged residents not to wait until floodwaters become dangerous before evacuating.
Pampanga also facing prolonged flooding
Pampanga is dealing with a similar situation, particularly in downstream communities.
Areas including Candaba, Macabebe and Masantol have been affected by persistent flooding, with provincial officials saying water levels in some downstream areas have not significantly receded.
The continuing Habagat rains are adding more water to already flooded areas, increasing the possibility that communities could remain inundated for longer.
The province was previously placed under a state of calamity following widespread flooding caused by the enhanced Habagat. According to the Philippine Information Agency, hundreds of barangays across Pampanga were affected during the earlier phase of the weather crisis.
Pampanga dam damaged as heavy rain continues
The flood threat in Pampanga escalated further after heavy rains damaged portions of the Sta. Rita Dam in Lubao.
Philstar reported that a large volume of water coming from upstream caused damage to portions of the dam’s slope protection and retaining wall. Debris from forests and agricultural areas was also reported to have obstructed some openings.
The provincial government ordered evacuations in danger zones, while disaster responders, police, firefighters, soldiers and Coast Guard personnel assisted affected residents.
PAGASA warns Habagat will continue
PAGASA’s latest forecasts indicate that the southwest monsoon will continue affecting Luzon.
The Philippine News Agency reported that monsoon rains were expected over Pampanga, Bataan, Zambales, Tarlac and other parts of Luzon, while occasional rains were forecast over Bulacan and several neighboring provinces.
PAGASA also warned that flash floods and landslides may occur during heavy to intense rainfall.
The weather bureau’s rainfall warnings issued Saturday morning placed Pampanga and several Bulacan municipalities under the highest warning level.
Among the Bulacan areas under the red warning were Hagonoy, Malolos, Paombong, Bulakan, Calumpit, Pulilan, Plaridel, Balagtas, Bocaue, Santa Maria, Pandi, Bustos, Marilao, Meycauayan and Obando, among others.
Bulacan remains under heightened disaster monitoring
The prolonged flooding comes after Bulacan was declared under a province-wide state of calamity earlier this month because of widespread flooding and damage linked to the enhanced Habagat and previous tropical cyclones.
The Bulacan provincial government reported that 11 of the province’s 24 cities and municipalities had flooding as of August 20, with thousands of families affected and thousands more temporarily staying in evacuation centers.
The province’s disaster authorities have continued monitoring river systems, dams and flood-prone communities.
Residents urged to act before conditions worsen
With heavy rain continuing, authorities are urging residents in low-lying and flood-prone areas to remain vigilant, follow evacuation orders and rely only on official weather and disaster advisories.
For communities already surrounded by floodwaters, the danger is not simply the amount of rain falling from the sky. Rising rivers, high tide, backflow and water releases can continue pushing floodwaters higher even after rainfall temporarily weakens.
For now, the warning remains clear: the water has not fully receded, and another round of heavy Habagat rain could quickly make an already dangerous situation worse.
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