SAN ANTONIO, Zambales — Zambales has been placed under a province-wide state of calamity after days of intense southwest monsoon rains and the effects of recent tropical cyclones triggered widespread flooding, landslides, damaged infrastructure and agricultural losses across the province.
The declaration was approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on Friday, August 21, following the recommendation of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC). The council cited the combined impact of the enhanced southwest monsoon, or Habagat, and Tropical Cyclones Luis and Maymay.
According to the latest provincial situational report, 5,770 families or 17,317 individuals have been affected by the disaster.
One of the hardest-hit communities is Barangay Sta. Fe in San Marcelino, where about 119 residents were forced to leave their homes as floodwaters rose. The powerful current also swept away the Sta. Fe Bridge, cutting off residents on one side of the community from the other.
Infrastructure damage reaches hundreds of millions
The flooding did not only affect homes and communities. Major damage was also recorded in flood-control and river-protection structures.
Department of Public Works and Highways assessments put infrastructure damage at approximately P390.2 million, while the estimated amount needed for recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction has reached P966.2 million.
Municipal disaster offices reported an additional P96.85 million in flood-control damage, with another P114 million estimated for recovery needs.
The damage follows earlier reports that several flood-control and river-protection structures across Zambales had already been affected by the prolonged bad weather.
Earlier in August, Inquirer reported damage involving structures in Botolan, Cabangan, San Narciso, San Marcelino and San Felipe, with officials warning that compromised flood-control infrastructure contributed to flooding in some communities. At one point, at least 1,441 families or 7,046 individuals across the province were affected by flooding and swollen rivers.
Agriculture also takes a major hit
Zambales’ agricultural sector has also suffered significant losses.
Rice damage alone affected 1,007 farmers and 810.48 hectares, resulting in reported losses of approximately P11.2 million.
Officials also recorded damage involving high-value crops, livestock, fisheries, aquaculture, agricultural infrastructure, irrigation facilities and farm machinery, suggesting that the full economic impact on farmers and other rural communities could rise as assessments continue.
Masinloc was already under calamity status
The province-wide declaration came after the municipality of Masinloc separately declared a state of calamity on August 17.
The municipal government cited severe flooding in low-lying and flood-prone barangays, damage to infrastructure and agriculture, displacement of families, and disruptions to work and classes. Local disaster officials said the prolonged rains had also disrupted critical community services and livelihood activities.
GMA News likewise reported that the Masinloc disaster affected agriculture and infrastructure, forced some families to evacuate and led to temporary suspensions of work and classes.
Thousands had already fled rising floodwaters
The scale of the disaster had become apparent even before the province-wide declaration.
On August 9, Philstar reported that 962 families, or 2,876 people, had evacuated from flood-affected areas in 12 of Zambales’ 13 municipalities.
Among the areas with large numbers of evacuees were Cabangan, Sta. Cruz, Iba, Candelaria and Botolan. Heavy rainfall also triggered significant lahar flows from waterways draining Mount Pinatubo, worsening flooding and damaging homes and infrastructure.
In San Marcelino’s Sta. Fe area, a strong lahar flow along the swollen Sto. Tomas River breached part of a dike and washed out a bridge, leaving residents stranded and cutting off access to portions of the community.
The rainfall threat exposed Zambales’ vulnerability
The province’s latest crisis came after a prolonged period of heavy rain associated with the enhanced southwest monsoon and successive weather disturbances.
Philstar reported that Zambales recorded 158.6 millimeters of rainfall at its Iba monitoring station over 24 hours from August 6 to 7, the highest among the areas cited in that report.
The repeated rainfall, swollen rivers and lahar flows placed additional pressure on already vulnerable communities and flood-control systems.
What the state of calamity means
The province-wide declaration is expected to strengthen the coordination of government response, relief distribution, early recovery and rehabilitation programs.
It also gives local authorities a formal mechanism to mobilize resources and respond more quickly to communities affected by the disaster.
For residents whose homes, farms and livelihoods have been damaged, however, the declaration is only the beginning.
With infrastructure damage already estimated at hundreds of millions of pesos and recovery requirements approaching P1 billion for DPWH-assessed infrastructure alone, Zambales now faces a lengthy rehabilitation effort.
Officials are continuing to validate damage and needs assessments, meaning the financial toll could still increase as more affected areas and losses are documented.
For Zambales, the floodwaters may eventually recede—but the province’s recovery bill is only beginning to come into focus.
Leave a Reply