Pampanga hardest-hit by weeks of habagat rains, 330 villages still flooded

Abi Sarabia M., Philippine Canadian Inquirer
September 01, 2026

Photo courtesy: SunStar Pampanga

Pampanga has emerged as the hardest-hit province from weeks of torrential rains brought by the southwest monsoon, or habagat, according to initial inspections by the Office of Civil Defense.

OCD Deputy Administrator for Administration Assistant Secretary Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV said aerial inspections showed that floodwaters remained high in San Simon and many other parts of Pampanga as of Monday, August 31.

At least 330 barangays across 20 local government units in the province remain flooded, highlighting the prolonged impact of successive heavy rains on communities in Central Luzon.

Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda and local disaster officials have requested continued assistance from national government agencies, noting that local emergency and disaster response personnel have been working continuously for around three weeks.

The OCD said national government officials committed to sustaining response operations to provide some relief to exhausted personnel in Pampanga, as well as neighboring Zambales and Tarlac.

During the same aerial inspection, authorities also reached Tarlac, where they saw two bridges destroyed by heavy flooding the previous week.

A more detailed assessment is expected as weather conditions improve. Heavy rains hampered Monday’s aerial inspection, while authorities are also preparing to assess conditions in Zambales and Pangasinan amid forecasts of continued rainfall.

The widespread flooding comes as the combined effects of tropical cyclones Luis, Maymay and Neneng and the southwest monsoon continue to affect millions of Filipinos.

As of the latest OCD report, around 8.8 million people or 2.5 million families have been affected across 10 regions, while the reported death toll has climbed to 33, with 19 injured and three still missing.

Rescue, relief and damage-assessment operations remain underway in affected areas as authorities continue to monitor river levels and weather conditions.