SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — Motorists in the City of San Fernando were urged to avoid several flooded roads on Friday as persistent rains brought by the southwest monsoon, or Habagat, inundated key thoroughfares and disrupted traffic across parts of the city.
Authorities warned that several areas had become impassable to light vehicles, underscoring the risks facing drivers as floodwaters continue to affect Pampanga and other parts of Central Luzon.
According to the City Public Order and Safety Coordinating Office (CPOSCO), flooded sections of MacArthur Highway in Barangay Dolores, including the Vista Rica and Sampaloc areas, were among the locations motorists were advised to avoid. Traffic was reported in both northbound and southbound directions.
The Poblacion area in Barangay Sto. Rosario was also reported impassable to light vehicles due to flooding.
Other roads flagged by authorities included areas in Magliman, San Jose, Del Pilar, Sta. Lucia, San Nicolas, Pandaras, San Juan and the city proper, with several routes affected by rising water levels.
Flooding Adds to Pampanga’s Growing Weather Crisis
The latest road advisories come as Pampanga continues to deal with widespread flooding linked to days of heavy rain and adverse weather conditions.
Recent reports have shown the scale of the flooding crisis across the province, with more than half of Pampanga’s barangays affected during the recent bout of severe weather. Pampanga was also placed under a state of calamity earlier this month as communities grappled with the impact of persistent flooding.
The situation has drawn national attention. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visited flood-hit areas in Central Luzon earlier this week as the government discussed both immediate and long-term measures to reduce the region’s vulnerability to recurring floods.
Among the longer-term proposals being studied are five dams in Nueva Ecija and a 100-kilometer dike toward Pilar, Bataan, while immediate interventions include infrastructure repairs, declogging, desilting and dredging operations.
Habagat Still Bringing Rain to Central Luzon
The danger is not over yet.
The southwest monsoon continues to bring occasional to heavy rains across parts of Central Luzon, including Pampanga, with authorities warning of possible flooding in vulnerable areas. Weather conditions can change quickly, meaning roads that are passable now may become dangerous within hours.
Motorists are strongly advised to check official local advisories before traveling, avoid driving through deep or unfamiliar floodwaters, and take alternate routes whenever possible.
As San Fernando residents and commuters navigate another day of flooding, one question remains at the center of the crisis: How much more rain—and how much more flooding—can Pampanga endure before long-term solutions finally take effect?
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