CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga (PIA) — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) are moving to address flooding and water-flow concerns in communities affected by the ongoing construction of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR).
DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon led a meeting with DOTr officials, local government officials, and other stakeholders to assess waterways affected by the railway project and identify measures that can be implemented immediately.
The assessment covered areas in Pampanga and Bulacan, as well as Valenzuela, Makati, and the Magallanes Tunnel along EDSA, where officials identified drainage and water-flow concerns requiring coordinated action.
“Alam mo, kailangan umaksyon na tayo. Kasi walang mangyayari sa atin kung hindi tayo gagawa ng solusyon,” Dizon said.
In Apalit, Pampanga, officials identified waterways that have become narrower during the ongoing railway construction, prompting plans to repair and widen affected passages and restore their previous capacity.
“Maraming mga dating dinadaanan ng tubig na lumiit, pinaliit ng ongoing construction ng tren; kailangan palakihin ito at i-restore kung ano siya dati,” the DPWH chief said.
The DPWH and DOTr, together with NSCR contractors, will work on the identified waterways, including the repair and widening of culverts beneath the railway tracks, while unfinished dikes will be completed and mobile pumps pre-positioned for flood water removal.
“Unang-una, aayusin natin yung mga dike na hindi pa tapos para makapagbomba tayo ng tubig palabas. Kasi kung wala tayong mga dike, kahit earth dike, hindi tayo makaka-pump out ng tubig,” Dizon said.
He cited the recent dredging operation in Minalin, Pampanga, where equipment was deployed the day after an inspection, as an example of the government’s push for faster field-level response.
“Ang ginawa natin sa Minalin, pagkatapos namin bumisita doon ni Gov, the next day nagpadala tayo ng equipment doon. Nagde-dredge na doon,” Dizon said.
Pampanga Vice Governor Dennis Pineda, Apalit Mayor Jun Tetangco, and other local officials participated in the meeting and helped identify areas requiring attention along the NSCR corridor.
Dizon said national agencies, local governments, and contractors must work together in addressing problems where major infrastructure projects intersect with existing waterways.
“Kailangan nag-uusap-usap lagi. Hindi yung nagkakanya-kanya. Kasi dati nagkakanya-kanya eh,” he stressed.
He said the focus should be on recognizing problems and jointly implementing solutions rather than assigning blame for the flooding concerns.
“Hindi ako tipong tao nagtuturo. Pero kailangan, aminin natin yung problema. Tapos magkasama tayong solution na yung problema,” Dizon said.
While comprehensive flood-control measures will require sustained work over the coming years, Dizon said immediate interventions should proceed alongside long-term planning to provide relief and protection to affected communities.
The DPWH-DOTr initiative is expected to strengthen the integration of railway construction with local drainage and flood-management measures, with continued monitoring and field interventions in areas along the NSCR corridor. (CLJD/MJSC, PIA Region 3-Pampanga)