MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will help to relocate initial 70 families living along and on the Pampanga River in Calumpit, Bulacan, as part of efforts to clear the area for flood-control projects.
 |
| Photo courtesy: DPWH |
DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon announced the relocation plan after inspecting the river by boat amid heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon, or Habagat.
Dizon said the families cannot remain in the area because their homes are obstructing the construction of new dikes, particularly in Barangay Calizon.
Under DPWH standards, riverbanks and areas within four meters of them cannot be used for residential structures, while some of the affected homes in Calumpit were built directly over the Pampanga River.
The families are especially vulnerable during high tide, when rising water can quickly reach their homes.
Dizon said the DPWH has coordinated with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to secure 100 housing units for families who will be displaced from the Pampanga River.
The affected families are expected to be included in the DOTr's in-city relocation project in Calumpit, which provides housing for residents displaced by the North-South Commuter Railway project.
Their permanent relocation is targeted for the first part of 2027, but the DPWH will provide rental subsidies so the families can move to temporary accommodations while waiting for the housing units.
Dizon said the flood-control project had been delayed as the DPWH first addressed legal issues surrounding the area and the project.
The flood-control works in Calumpit were among projects previously flagged for irregularities and inspected by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during his visit to Bulacan in August 2025.
The renewed project will include properly installed piles for the dikes and pumping stations to remove excess rainwater and prevent flooding behind the structures.
The DPWH aims to raise the new dikes on both sides of the Pampanga River to the same level as the existing dike surrounding Calumpit’s poblacion.
Officials said older dikes built over the past two decades are no longer sufficient because rising water levels and river siltation have caused floodwaters to overtop them.
The Pampanga River carries excess water from Pampanga and Nueva Ecija during heavy rains, contributing to back-flooding in Calumpit and neighboring Hagonoy.
— The Summit Express
Start the conversation. Share your thoughts, insights, or reactions, and connect with fellow readers.