PAMPANGA — The provincial government of Pampanga is seeking additional manpower and a sustained supply of relief goods from the national government as widespread flooding continues to affect large parts of the province.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said Pampanga is among the hardest-hit areas in Central Luzon after weeks of heavy rains brought by the Southwest Monsoon and recent tropical cyclones. As of August 31, around 330 barangays across 20 local government units in the province remained flooded.

Local officials said their resources are being depleted while responders who have been conducting rescue, evacuation and relief operations for weeks are already exhausted.

OCD officials conducted an aerial inspection over Pampanga and nearby areas, including Tarlac and Bulacan, to assess the extent of the flooding and identify the immediate needs of affected communities.

During meetings with provincial and local officials, Pampanga authorities reported that even areas that were previously not prone to flooding have now been inundated.

OCD Deputy Administrator Assistant Secretary Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV said one of the province’s immediate needs is additional personnel to reinforce local responders who have been continuously deployed in flooded communities.

The OCD said the national government is prepared to augment manpower and resources in Pampanga and other affected provinces to allow local emergency personnel to rest and sustain ongoing response operations.

Pampanga is also requesting additional relief supplies as local funds and available resources continue to be stretched by the prolonged flooding.

Power restoration is another concern in several communities that remain without electricity. However, authorities said restoring power remains difficult in areas where floodwaters are still high.

The prolonged flooding has also raised health concerns, particularly the possible increase in cases of influenza-like illness, dengue and leptospirosis among residents exposed to floodwaters for extended periods.

Authorities are also closely monitoring river levels and other hazards as continued rains could further worsen flooding in Central Luzon.

The OCD said it remains uncertain when floodwaters will fully subside, particularly with the Southwest Monsoon continuing to affect parts of Luzon and weather systems still being monitored near the country.

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