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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DPWH orders urgent dredging of Pampanga River after dike breach floods towns

DPWH orders urgent dredging of Pampanga River after dike breach floods towns

Published Jul 26, 2025 02:48 pm

At A Glance

  • The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has ordered the immediate dredging of the Pampanga River following a dike collapse in Lubao, Pampanga.
  • DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan said siltation has critically reduced the river's capacity to hold water during typhoons.
  • Emergency measures such as sandbagging and bamboo piling are underway to prevent further flooding.
  • Other flood control structures in Guagua, Bacolor, and Sasmuan were also damaged by continuous rains.
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan conducts an on-site inspection of the collapsed portion of a dike along the Pampanga River in Barangay Sta. Rita, Lubao, Pampanga. The DPWH has ordered the immediate dredging of the heavily silted river to help prevent further flooding in nearby towns. (Photo from Pampanga Provincial Information Office)
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan conducts an on-site inspection of the collapsed portion of a dike along the Pampanga River in Barangay Sta. Rita, Lubao, Pampanga. The DPWH has ordered the immediate dredging of the heavily silted river to help prevent further flooding in nearby towns. (Photo from Pampanga Provincial Information Office)
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has ordered the clearing of the heavily silted Pampanga River after a collapse of a dike in Barangay Sta. Rita in Lubao which led to flooding in the area and nearby towns.
DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan said excessive sedimentation has severely reduced the river’s capacity to contain rising water during recent typhoons, resulting in the embankment’s failure.
“This is already critical if we don’t act quickly. That river is heavily silted. We really need to conduct dredging. The entire Pampanga River system must be addressed. That’s our biggest challenge,” Bonoan said during an on-site inspection.
The DPWH is coordinating with the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) and the provincial government of Pampanga to carry out emergency repairs in affected areas.
Initial interventions include sandbagging, bamboo piling, and other temporary measures to prevent further flooding while long-term rehabilitation plans are being finalized.
Apart from the Sta. Rita dike breach, the DPWH also reported damage to other flood control structures in the province, including a collapsed irrigation canal in Sitio Ligaya, Barangay Pulungmasle in Guagua.
Slope protection works along Cabambangan Creek in Bacolor and riprap sections near Banqueruan Bridge in Sasmuan were likewise weakened by continuous rains.
The agency said the recent structural failures underscore the urgency of reinforcing flood defenses and adopting a sustainable river management strategy in flood-prone areas across Central Luzon.

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Pampanga River DPWH dike collapse
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