Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Daniza Fernandez

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is eyeing to solve flooding in Bulacan through the Pampanga River Basin Master Plan and a planned project in Manila Bay.After an inspection in Bulacan on Saturday, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon noted that the province is surrounded by bodies of water, which contribute to flooding in the area.“‘Yun talagang masakit, nasa-sandwich po ang mga bayan natin ng tubig galing sa ilog at tubig galing sa dagat,” Dizon said.The DPWH chief explained that under the Pampanga River Basin Master Plan, mega dikes will be built to prevent waters from reaching Bulacan.“Ang tubig po na nagbabaha ng Hagonoy at Paombong [sa Bulacan] ay nanggagaling sa taas—mula Nueva Ecija pa ho ‘yan—pababa ng Pampanga River [tapos] bumabagsak po ang tubig kasama na rin po diyan ang mga bayan ng Calumpit at iba pang mga bayan ng Bulacan,” Dizon explained.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/8/22/dizon-abalos-inspect-infrastructure-projects-in-bulacan-after-monsoon-rains-1920">Dizon, Abalos inspect infrastructure projects in Bulacan after monsoon rains </a> </div>Meanwhile, the proposed Manila Bay Coastal Defense Dike Project will span across Metro Manila, Bulacan, Pampanga, and Bataan.Dizon said Bataan Representative Albert Garcia and Bataan Governor Joet Garcia proposed the project.“Yan po talaga ang magiging proteksyon nating lahat sa pagpasok ng tubig-dagat mula sa Manila Bay,” the DPWH chief said.He said the Asian Development Bank committed to helping with the project.Moreover, the DPWH will address the gaps in the approved flood control projects.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/19/dpwh-redesigns-drainage-inlets-on-metro-manila-roads-to-prevent-flooding-1344">DPWH redesigns drainage inlets on Metro Manila roads to prevent flooding</a></div>The Bulacan First District Engineering Office reported ₱6 billion worth of allegedly questionable infrastructure projects.<div> </div><div>‘WRONG DESIGN’</div>Dizon and Cabinet Secretary Benhur Abalos inspected infrastructure projects in Bulacan on Saturday afternoon following back-to-back monsoon rains over the past two weeks.“Kaya rin po tayo pinapunta ng ating Pangulo [Ferdinand Marcos Jr.] ay para alamin kung ano pang kailangan ni mayor at ng mga barangay po rito,” Abalos said.Aboard a boat, Dizon and Abalos first went to the coastal dikes in Barangays Masukol and Santa Cruz in Paombong.Dizon said the coastal dikes had sustained damage even before the recent rains, will be repaired next week using a new design because the current structure fails to protect the coastal area.“Ang disenyo nito—na pinoint out nga nila kapitan—ay para sa mga dike panglooban,” he said. “Ang dapat ang disenyo dito, dike para sa dagat.”“Manila Bay na po ‘yan. Open sea na po ito. Grabe ‘yung hampas ng alon dito,” he said.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/19/pumping-stations-damaged-due-to-trash-dpwh-1802">Pumping stations damaged due to trash — DPWH</a></div>He added that the repair will be at no cost to the government since it is still covered by the contractor’s warranty. However, hexapads will be under government expenses as it is not included in the original design.Dizon and Abalos also inspected a flood control project along the river in Hagonoy.The two secretaries held a discussion with Tindig Hagonoy, a group calling for a solution to the perennial flooding in their area. One of its members is Angel Cruz, who lost a leg to a flesh-eating bacterium from the flood two years ago.“Dalawang araw itong nababad sa tubig-baha na madumi. Hindi ko alam, meron akong maliit na sugat sa paa,” Cruz recalled.“Pero dumating ‘yung time, umakyat na ‘yung infection. Kung hindi ko siya ipapaputol, mamatay ako,” he added, noting that he was hospitalized for 27 days.He also shared that several residents drowned or were electrocuted. Meanwhile, the DPWH chief also visited Tublay, Benguet, to inspect the curtain net along the Gov. Bado Dangwa National Road, which the agency noted has been effective in catching soil collapses.President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the DPWH to restore parts of the curtain net that were destroyed.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is eyeing to solve flooding in Bulacan through the Pampanga River Basin Master Plan and a planned project in Manila Bay.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is eyeing to solve flooding in Bulacan through the Pampanga River Basin Master Plan and a planned project in Manila Bay.

DPWH: Pampanga River master plan, planned Manila Bay project eyed to ease Bulacan floods

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DPWH: Pampanga River master plan, planned Manila Bay project eyed to ease Bulacan floods

Daniza Fernandez,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 23, 2026 01:14 AM PHT

|

Updated August 23, 2026 09:14 AM PHT

Read More:

Bulacan

flood control project

Vince Dizon

Benhur Abalos

Department of Public Works and Highways

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