Dam eyed near Aurora to prevent severe flooding in Pampanga, says Gov. Pineda

MANILA, Philippines – A dam is being planned near Aurora to serve as a reservoir for water rushing down elevated areas during storms and help prevent sudden and severe flooding in low-lying parts of Pampanga, Governor Lilia Pineda said Friday.

Pineda made the statement during an interview on DZRH’s Balansyado on August 28, saying President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had ordered the construction of the dam during his visit.

According to Pineda, planning for the project is already underway through the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the National Irrigation Administration (NIA).

“Mayroon na siyang inutos na maglalagay sila ng isang dam, lalo na doon sa may bandang Aurora, kung saan malakas ang tubig bago bumaba ng Pampanga,” she said.

The governor also mentioned Marcos’ plan to construct five sabo dams to help contain rainfall runoff coming from the Sierra Madre mountain range.

“Ewan ko kung mangyayari pero pagagawan din ng dam ‘yung pababa ng Sierra Madre,” she said.

Pineda said the most effective way to mitigate destructive flooding would be to intercept water at higher elevations and divert it into a large reservoir before it reaches flood-prone communities.

“Ang dapat talaga, parang mayroon kang malaking reservoir, na mayroon kang dam, sa taas pa lang,” she said.

She said the need for such measures was underscored by the volume of rainwater that overwhelmed waterways across Pampanga.

“Malala kasi ‘yung bagsak ng tubig-ulan, grabe, hindi naman nangyayari itong ganito, pero halos lahat: mga tributaries, nago-overflow, ‘yung mga long river namin, halos ‘yung iba gamuntik na ring mag-overflow, pati ‘yung mga maliliit na ilog,” she said.

Pineda also recounted how four houses beside a dike were swept away by powerful currents during a sudden flash flood.

“Nagtaka kami, lalo na kanina, nabigla na lang, bigla talagang mayroong flash flood ‘yung tubig,” she told the anchors, adding that the four houses beside the dike fell simultaneously because of the force of the current.

She said the intensity of the rainfall was unusual, noting that conditions sometimes felt like a storm despite forecasts calling for only light to moderate rain.

— The Summit Express