That masterplan

 

                                                                                  Punto FB Page 

 “WE already have a master plan; it’s just never been executed.”

Atop the Aquino Bridge (or is it the Agana Bridge?) which partially collapsed due to strong river currents and torrential southwest monsoon rains, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. may have rued over what could have at least mitigated flooding and its concomitant destruction in vast areas of Central Luzon.

“We are only executing it now. We have had a master plan for decades, but walang ginawa. Hanggang ngayon lang. Ngayon lang natin sinisimulan,” he iterated, if only, perhaps, to underscore the consequence.

Marcos Jr. though did not give specifics to the masterplan he referenced during his Tarlac City visit on Sept.2. 

PBBM with Sec. Dizon and Tarlac officials at Agana Bridge. Mayor Susan Yap FB Page

Separately, Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon said as much, and more: “Puro away at puro salitaan… ang dami nang plano, now it’s time to execute.”

And explicitly, Dizon said the president’s marching order is clear: Stop talking and start executing flood-control plans – in the context of the Candaba detention basin proposed as a potential solution to flooding in Central Luzon but was not implemented due to what he said as “political infighting.”

Forgive Dizon for misreading the cause of the masterplan’s failure to launch. He was two years and 24 days yet from his appointment to DPWH when that happened. The now-disgraced Manuel Bonoan forced to resign on Sept. 1, 2025.

Aye, that was a day over a year ago. Some augury obtaining there? Anyways…

August 7, 2023. Pampanga Provincial Capitol

President Marcos Jr. was presiding over a situational briefing in the wake of severe flooding due to the southwest monsoon rains enhanced by consecutive tropical cyclones Egay and Falcon. (Déjà vu, just like of late). 

As former Public Works Secretary Rogelio “Babes” Singson, president and CEO of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., was presenting a proposal to turn portions of the Candaba Swamp in Pampanga and the San Antonio Swamps in Nueva Ecija into water impounding facilities, Pampanga 4^th District Rep. Anna York Bondoc without so much as a bye-your-leave interjected: “Hindi po kami papayag sa impounding sa Candaba Swamp, that is a wrong concept and we are not going to allow that. Diyan sa Candaba, diyan nag-umpisa ang Hukbalahap movement, if you want a security problem sirain nyo yang hanapbuhay ng lahat ng magsasaka sa Candaba, magwa-walk out po kami dito.”

Bondoc resurrecting the Red bogey there, as though it could still instill terror from its post-Soviet grave.  

To his credit, the president did not indulge the un-parliamentarian’s impudence.

“If there are people who will be displaced, I will personally guarantee each farmer that they will be transferred to another location that is equally good to ensure they won’t encounter difficulties or losses,” Marcos Jr. maintained, even as he noted that dredging is a temporary solution that is “exceedingly costly.”

“In the longer term we really have to study what we are going to do in terms of impounding. We have to study it well because if we don’t do anything, [flooding] will keep on happening even if [the rivers are] dredged,” the president averred.

And lectured on: “Kaya nga hindi na bumababa yung tubig dahil napuno na sa ibaba, it is not something that we are doing intentionally, it is something that happened dahil napakalakas ng ulan doon sa itaas. Instead of arguing, what do you suggest?”

With Singson clarifying that Candaba Swamp alone can store excess water which could be released once the Pampanga River drains, thereby preventing massive inundation, the local government executives committed to support the proposal.

The president’s last word during the briefing: “The location of water impounding is not a political decision, it is a decision made for us by nature. Kailangan nating sundan ang takbo ng lupa, ang takbo ng tubig. Hindi dahil pabor yung isa, malapit sa presidente yung isa. It doesn’t work that way.”

And that was the end of it.

Alas, three years and 26 days after, we hear Dizon say, today, Sept. 2: “Now it’s time to execute.”

We can only hope he’s on the same page as the president.

As for Bondoc, that moment of insolence has become the albatross around her neck, reeking at every flooding over the loss of what might have been. 

 

It never fails...It never happens

NAG-MESSAGE NA po ang kalikasan! Huwag na po tayong bumoto ng mga magnanakaw!

Sana maala-ala ninyong dulot ito ng mga magnanakaw na politiko sa sandaling kaharap na ninyo at susulatin/bibilugan ang balota sa susunod na eleksyon.

Sana tag-ulan ang eleksyon. Ang bilis kasi natin makalimot, eh.

Save nyo lahat ng video at photo ng baha. Yan ang gawin nating kodigo sa election.

Huwag tayong makalimot kapag election maging matalino sa oras ng pagboto!

Madala na sana tayo sa wakas, tayong walang kadala-dala.

Keng eleksyon, pakaisip-isip tamu.

Pota ngeni mu ing muwa mu. Sana keng eleksyon eka mula-mulala.

IT NEVER fails, after any major calamity or disaster – voters venting vitriol on incumbents, vowing vengeance in the next elections.

It never happens, anyway – the usual suspects getting as easily re-elected. 

For, as I have written and rewritten in columns past --

… In the pursuit of our electoral exercises do we, as we should, to quote Baruch Spinoza, “… use in security all (our) endowments, mental and physical, and make free use of (our) reason”?

Reason, my ass. Reason is at its weakest when passion is at its strongest. This is borne in Philippine elections: always visceral, rarely, very, very rarely cerebral. There lies a chasm as unbridgeable as sin between man and God.

Fettered on patronage, the electorate makes the vote a commodity to trade for some favor, given or promised, or to directly sell for cash. The outrageous outburst of Gouverneur Morris at the time of the infancy of the American nation comes of age anew: “Give the vote to the people who have no property, and they will sell them to the rich, who will be able to buy them.” Not only able but willing and raring to buy them.

Factored on popularity, the electoral choices tax the intellect of the gnat. Were a brain pool of the country’s elected officials established – in the Senate and the House, infamously – it most surely would fit the head of a pin.

Fault not the elected. Damn the electorate.

So, we have clowns and idiots in the Houses, so we are the clowns and the idiots ourselves. An iteration ad nauseam: We just don’t deserve whom we elect. We are whom we elect.

The booboisie, as H.L. Mencken put it, is us. And our vote, that “great right grossly abused, and has become, in practice, a grave wrong.”

 

 

 

Gone in 3 days: What if

LUBAO, Pampanga -- “Sa DPWH, hinihiling po namin ang agarang pag-inspeksyon at pagkilos sa nasirang slope protection sa gilid ng Sto. Cristo Dam. Mahalaga pong matiyak ang kaligtasan ng ating mga kababayan at maiwasan ang paglala ng pinsala, lalo na sa panahon ng malakas na pag-ulan. Umaasa po kami sa inyong agarang tugon at aksyon. Maraming salamat po.”

So, Vice Mayor Jhay Montemayor posted on his FB page on Tuesday, Aug. 25, with a video of the dam and photo of two houses – one unfinished, the other occupied – on its embankment.  

On Friday, Aug. 28, a video of apparently the occupied house collapsing and swept by rampaging floodwaters from the Sto. Cristo Dam was uploaded by Rockwell Piñgul De Leon and instantly went viral.  

Amid some anguished wailing, cry the questions of what-ifs and what-might-have-beens.  

 

 

Sto. Cristo Dam: Same quagmire, a year apart

 

“IPINAKITA PO namin ni Gov. Nanay kay [DPWH] Secretary Vince Dizon at mga opisyal ng National Irrigation Administration ang pinsala na tinamo ng Sto. Cristo Dam sa Lubao mula kahapon, Aug. 28.

“Sa kasagsagan ng malakas na ulan, inanod ng rumaragasang tubig ang mga puno at putik mula sa kabundukan ng Zambales mountain range, dahilan kung bakit nagbara at lumiko ang tubig na tumangay ng apat na bahay sa kalapit na baryo. Ipapakumpuni po ang dam. 

“Kakailangan din po na magtanim ng mga puno sa itaas. Nagpapasalamat po kami kay Secretary Vince sa agarang inspection na ni-request po ng ating governor.”

Thus, posted Vice Gov. Dennis “Delta” Pineda on his social media page on Aug. 29, with corresponding pictures of the inspection. 

There is something uncanny about the vice governor’s post, some feeling of déjà vu with the photos, some recurrence in the same spot from only a year past.

 JULY 2025                

 

DAM NOT IN DANGER

LUBAO, Pampanga – The National Irrigation Administration Pampanga-Bataan Irrigation Management Office has denied reports circulating in social media that the Sto. Cristo Dam in Barangay Sta. Rita here is in danger of collapsing due to soil erosion. The agency assured residents that it continues to monitor the dam for the community’s safety.

On July 23, sandbagging operations on an eroded slope protection were undertaken by NIA- PamBat IMO, along with the DPWH 2nd District Engineering Office, Sta. Rita barangay council, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine National Police, and irrigators association members. NIA-3 FB page

 

NANAY GOV STRESSES SENSE OF URGENCY IN DIKE ROAD REPAIR

LUBAO, Pampanga -- “Tingnan mo naman ang mga taong masasalanta… yung pananim, yung agrikultura, yung mga bahay at ari-arian nila. Kung mawa-wash out ito, ano naman ang mangyayari sa kanila?”

Checking it herself, Gov. Lilia "Nanay" Pineda impacts the sense of urgency in the immediate restoration of the collapsed portion of a dike road near the Sto. Cristo Dam in Barangay Sta. Rita here, to be followed by a long-term, sustainable solution.

With Nanay Gov in her on-site monitoring were officials of the DPWH, NIA-PamBat IMO, PNP, the local government of Lubao, the chiefs of the provincial engineering, environment and natural resources, and disaster risk reduction and management offices. Governor Pineda remains proactive in ensuring the safety and welfare of all Kapampangans amid these natural calamities. Pampanga PIO

DPWH CHIEF ASSESSES DAMAGED DIKE ROAD, IMMEDIATE REPAIR SET

LUBAO, Pampanga — “It’s a critical situation if we don’t act quickly. But rest assured that this will be attended to by the government, including NIA and DPWH.”

DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan on July 25 personally made a personal assessment of the damaged dike road in Barangay Sta. Rita here, a day after Gov. Lilia “Nanay” Pineda raised alarm over the imminent danger to life, property, and livelihood of the surrounding communities.

The governor called on the DPWH and the NIA to carry out immediate measures on the eroded slope of the dike near the Sto. Cristo Dam which is under NIA management.

Following the on-site assessment, Bonoan confirmed that NIA, in coordination with the provincial government, is prepared to carry out immediate and necessary repairs and rehabilitation works on the affected sections of the dike. 

Among the immediate measures the governor called for was sheet pile shoring where interlocking steel or concrete sheets are driven into the ground to create a continuous wall for earth retention and support in eroded areas…

 SEPTEMBER 2025  

REPAIR WORK AT STO. CRISTO DAM

LUBAO, Pampanga – On Sept. 26, as part of precautionary measure for oncoming super tropical storm Opong, Lt. Col. Dederick M. Relativo, acting chief of police, personally inspected the water level of Sto. Cristo Dam, inadvertently named Sta. Rita Dam due to its location in Barangay Sta. Rita. Posted in the police’s FB page is a photograph of the cop chief and an aide at the dike by the dam. 

Last July 24, mainstream media carried this photograph of the dike damaged at the onslaught of storms Dante and Emong and the southwest monsoon, which looks like a reproduction of the first photo sans the persons.

On July 25, then-DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan did an on-site inspection, with equipment and material, principally sheet piles, for the dike repair on hand. 

On July 28, heavy equipment were reported to be at work at the site as shown in this CLTV-36 photograb. Sheet piles embedded into the bank not even halfway the dike level show work accomplished for two months. The Editor 

 

AND THEN, but for the assurances of NIA heard in perfunctory meetings, nothing more was publicized of the rehabilitation of the Sto. Cristo Dam. Until the southwest monsoons this week impacted it anew into the public consciousness. 

So, yesterday, Aug. 28, Dizon stood, looked, and made a point where his now disgraced predecessor Bonoan did the same but a year ago. 

And the same Sisyphean rigmarole rolls on. And on. And on.  

Pang-aalipusta sa kabayanihan, pagbabalahura sa kasaysayan

 DIMASALANG. Laong Laan. 

                                                             May Pag-asa. Agapito Bagumbayan.

Plaridel. Piping Dilat.

                                                              Pingkian. Dimasilaw.

Taga-ilog.

                                                                    Diego Laura.

Kalipulako. Tikbalang.

                                                          Buan.

 Marcial Bonifacio.

Sa likod ng mga sagisag-panulat o panghimagsikang-bansag, ang mga dakila sa kasaysayan ng bansang Pilipinas: Jose Rizal. Andres Bonifacio. Marcelo H. Del Pilar. Emilio Jacinto. Antonio Luna. Graciano Lopez Jaena. Mariano Ponce. Juan Luna. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino.

Mga taong totoo.

Inialay ang buhay para sa bayan.

Mga bayaning tunay.

Iginagalang. Ipinagbubunyi. Pinaparangalan.   

Ang mahila man lamang ang kanilang takip-pangalan sa usapin ng confidential funds ng pangalawang pangulo at isawsaw sa mga pangalang umusbong lamang mula sa likwad na diwang sumasalipawpaw – Antonio Pagong. Timon Andrew Pusa. Don Piang. May Pamana. Shane Ngitngit. Xuniso Belat. Mary Grace Piattos. Jay Kamote. Miggy Mango. Renan Piatos – ay hindi lamang paglalapastangan sa kanilang katauhan, kundi pang-aalipusta sa kanilang kadakilaan at pagbabalahura sa kanilang kabayanihan. 

Hindi ito gawain ng isang mangmang. Ito ay galawan ng isang hunghang.

Na ito ay magkaroon pa ng imbing kaganapan sa papalapit na Araw ng mga Bayani, ay isang kataksilan sa bayan at walang kapatawarang panghahalay sa kasaysayan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consuelo by Chef Vince Garcia

 Pititchan ternu king achara.

 Suwam mais. Sisig matua.

                                                            Pindang damulag. Kalderetang baka.

                            Asadung matua, alang kapara.

Kare-kareng tripas samut iking baka.

                          Fritong hitu, buru, apalya, balasenas, okra.

                                 Singleng nasing begukan, tidtad bawang.

Migbutaktak naka king nyaman ning lasa.

                                      Kalame ubi, tsuklating batirol – pagmayumu pa.

Consuelo --  

Pamagbalic king kakung kayanakan,

Pamanuli king tune dulang Kapampangan. 

Anyare, BBM?

“WE ARE very optimistic that this will redound to improving people’s lives by enhancing the disaster resilience of all our communities.”

Thus, spoke President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. buoying up the hopes for drier times of the people in the low-lying towns of Macabebe, Masantol, Minalin, and Sto. Tomas in Pampanga as he led the inauguration of the P7.57-billion flood mitigation project on Aug. 7, 2024. 

Located in Masantol, the Integrated Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation Project – Stage I (IDRR-CCA 1) was implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways and funded by the Export-Import Bank of Korea-Economic Development Cooperation Fund. 

Aimed to increase and improve the capacity of the Third River, Eastern Branch River, Caduang Tete River, and Sapang Maragul River – all tributaries of the Pampanga River, the project covers excavation, dredging, and widening of river channels, as well as the construction of embankments to enhance flood control.

In addition, the project involves the construction of three new bridges, five footbridges, eight sluice gate structures, and 164 fish pond gates. 

Unveiling the IDRR-CCA 1 (L-R) Masantol Mayor Ton-ton Bustos,  DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, House Speaker Martin Romualdez, PBBM, Republic of Korea Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Sang-hwa, Pampanga 4^th District Rep. Anna York Bondoc, and Vice Gov. Dennis “Delta” Pineda. PCO photo 

“Once it is fully completed, the IDRR-CCA will reduce the flood level and flood duration from 66 days to 17 days in the municipalities of Macabebe, Masantol, Minalin, and Sto. Tomas,” enthused Marcos Jr., as he assured the Masantol residents in attendance that the DPWH “will expeditiously complete the ongoing flood control projects here in Region 3.”

Then-DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan chipped in: “Today is a significant milestone in our efforts to reduce the impacts of natural disasters.”

Not to be outdone, Pampanga 4^th District Rep. Anna York Bondoc: “We are deeply honored by your presence today at the inauguration of the first-ever climate change loan of the Philippines.”

That was on Aug. 7, 2024.

Two years and five days after – Aug. 12, 2026 – the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Pampanga officially declared the whole province under a state of calamity amid prolonged and torrential rainfall that caused extensive flooding in several high-risk municipalities and barangays, displaced thousands of residents, disrupted livelihoods, and damaged agricultural areas and community infrastructure. 

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office Situational Report, as of 12 noon, Aug. 12: a total of 269,775 families, or 860,076 individuals, have been affected; 297 flooded barangays across 17 local government units; 7,731 individuals displaced and evacuated from affected communities. 

Damage to the agriculture sector exceeded P505 million, affecting approximately 3,787 farmers and fisherfolk.

Food packs provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Development were distributed to over 25,000 families in the 4^th District alone – Macabebe, Masantol, Minalin, and Sto. Tomas, foremost.  

The rains continued, even harder in places, for days. By Aug. 20, the PDRRMO reported P748.8 million in agricultural and fisheries damage, P3.1 million in livestock damage, and P11.9 million in egg-drop losses. A total of 7,754 farmers and fisherfolk affected.

On Aug. 21, flooding remained in 19 towns and cities, affecting 307,879 families or 982,100 individuals. Of Pampanga’s 505 barangays, 276 were under water. 

The breadth and depth of flooding in Pampanga – the worst in decades, if not ever, swear old-timers – dashed the hopes Marcos Jr. so elevated among the Kapampangans at the inauguration of that P7.57-billion IDRR-CCA 1 flood control in Masantol on Aug. 7, 2024. It has veritably turned into a white elephant, costly at that, seemingly as worthless as the phantom flood control projects still unresolved to this day.  

Nanay’s call

“Ang palagay ko, stop muna yung mga flood control. Kasi naalala ko, 10 years… Hindi naman kinukumpleto yung gawa. So, walang solusyon eh. Ganun pa rin.” 

Backdropped by the submerged Sunken Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in Bacolor town, Gov. Lilia “Nanay” Pineda could not have given her take of the current deluge a greater impact to the viewers of the Bilyonaryo News Channel newscast, Agenda.

Even as she pushed for the immediate dredging of the Pampanga River and its tributaries as a short-term solution, the governor called on the DPWH for a comprehensive review of long-standing flood control strategies, focusing on the effectiveness of traditional dikes and protective structures used over the years. 

Meanwhile, the DSWD and the Capitol continue to brave floodwaters in their relief operations across Pampanga.

Life, hard as it is, goes on. But for how long?