OLONGAPO CITY, Philippines — Olongapo City is once again battling widespread flooding and soil erosion as relentless rains associated with the southwest monsoon, or habagat, continue to pound parts of Luzon, disrupting traffic, forcing residents to evacuate and raising fears of further landslides.
The latest flooding, reported on Friday, August 28, came after weeks of persistent heavy rainfall that had already placed several communities in Olongapo under pressure.
According to a report by the Philippine Daily Inquirer, minor soil erosion struck Barangay Kalaklan at around 1:30 p.m., scattering rocks along a major road leading toward Zambales. Water levels also began rising along Rizal Avenue near Apo Torunda before authorities ordered the preemptive evacuation of residents in Barangay Sta. Rita as the Sta. Rita River continued to swell.
By early evening, the river had overflowed, sending floodwaters across the Del Rosario and Sta. Rita bridges and inundating portions of West Bajac-Bajac, East Bajac-Bajac, Kalaklan and Sta. Rita. Traffic in affected areas eventually came to a standstill.
Another erosion incident was reported along Napalan Street in Barangay Mabayuan. Authorities reported no injuries in the latest incidents.
Subic Roads Also Hit as Floodwaters Spread
The impact of the heavy rains extended beyond Olongapo’s residential communities. Inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, several roads became difficult or impossible for vehicles to pass because of flooding.
Reports said Bravo Fence, San Bernardino Road, Labitan Street and Quezon Avenue were impassable to light vehicles, while the 10-13 Road near the Kalayaan Sentry was closed to all traffic. Even as floodwaters began receding in some areas later in the evening, the situation underscored how quickly intense rainfall can disrupt transportation across the Olongapo-Subic area.
A Crisis That Has Been Building for Weeks
The latest flooding is not an isolated event.
Earlier this month, Olongapo recorded an extraordinary volume of rainfall, with the city’s disaster risk reduction office reporting that 741 millimeters of rain fell at the Kalaklan monitoring station from August 5 to 10—equivalent to about 85 percent of the rainfall expected for the entire month of August. The downpour forced hundreds of families to evacuate as river and bridge water levels reached dangerous levels.
Flooding again hit several parts of the city on August 17, affecting areas including East Bajac-Bajac, Mabayuan and Old Cabalan as monsoon rains continued. Authorities also urged residents in flood-prone communities to prepare for evacuation when water levels beneath key bridges rapidly rose.
The danger has not been limited to flooding. A landslide and retaining wall collapse near the boundary of Barangays New Cabalan and Old Cabalan earlier this month damaged a house and prompted the temporary closure of a nearby road due to the risk of further slope failure. Fortunately, no casualties were reported. Separate reports by GMA News and UNTV said persistent rain had saturated and softened the soil in the area, increasing the risk of landslides.
Why Olongapo Remains Vulnerable
The recurring emergencies highlight a growing challenge for communities exposed to prolonged and intense rainfall: flooding can occur at the same time that saturated slopes become vulnerable to erosion and landslides.
PAGASA has repeatedly warned during recent monsoon episodes that accumulated rainfall can worsen flooding and landslide risks, particularly in elevated and disaster-prone areas. Earlier this month, heavy rainfall warnings were issued across parts of Luzon as the southwest monsoon brought significant rainfall to Zambales and neighboring provinces.
For Olongapo residents, the concern is no longer simply whether a single day of rain will cause flooding. After weeks of repeated downpours, already saturated ground, swollen waterways and vulnerable slopes can make additional heavy rainfall more dangerous.
Authorities Continue Monitoring as Residents Urged to Stay Alert
Local disaster officials continue to monitor rainfall, river levels and flood-prone communities, while residents in low-lying and landslide-prone areas are being urged to follow official advisories and evacuate when instructed.
The latest round of flooding may have begun to subside in some areas, but Olongapo’s repeated emergencies throughout August show that the threat can quickly return when heavy rains persist.
And with waterways already tested and slopes weakened by weeks of rain, the next downpour could once again determine which communities are hit hardest.
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