BULACAN — Continuous heavy rains triggered by the southwest monsoon, intensified by high tide, have left large portions of Bulacan submerged, with thousands of residents grappling with the impact of the flooding as of Monday, July 21.
In the town of Marilao, floodwaters poured into homes near rivers, including that of Carlos de Vera. Living just steps away from the riverbank in Barangay Ibayo, De Vera has grown weary of the cycle of flooding.
“This keeps happening. We can never really prepare enough,” he said, as he described how they rushed to save furniture by carrying them to the second floor. A motor pump has become a necessary tool to drain the floodwater from their home — a routine that’s become all too familiar.
Wading through nearly two feet of murky water, residents like Junjun Baldemoro and Malou Lunaria shared a resigned sense of endurance. “There’s no choice but to bear it,” Baldemoro said. “We’ve learned to live with it.”
Lunaria echoed the sentiment, quipping, “Here, even if it doesn’t rain, high tide alone is enough to bring water to the streets. You’re not a true resident of Marilao if you haven’t had to deal with floodwater.
13 localities affected, thousands evacuated
According to the Provincial Government of Bulacan, flooding has already spread across 13 cities and municipalities. These include:
- Hagonoy
- Calumpit
- Balagtas
- Bocaue
- Paombong
- Meycauayan City
- Guiguinto
- Malolos City
- Bustos
- San Ildefonso
- Bulakan
- Baliwag City
- Marilao
Over 900 families, amounting to more than 2,000 individuals, have been evacuated to temporary shelters as flood levels in many areas remain high.
Local disaster response units are on high alert, while residents in flood-prone and riverside communities are being urged to stay vigilant.
Dams remain stable, authorities say
Despite the widespread flooding, officials say that the major dams supplying Bulacan remain at safe levels. Vice Governor Alexis Castro reassured the public that Angat Dam, a critical water source for the region, is not nearing overflow levels.
“The Angat Dam is stable. Bustos Dam has started releasing water, but only at minimal levels. The same goes for Ipo Dam. None of them are in a critical state,” Castro said.
Bridge collapse raises infrastructure concerns
Amid the severe weather, a bridge linking the towns of Doña Remedios Trinidad and San Miguel gave way earlier today. The structure, built under a Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) project, collapsed without warning. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the collapse and assessing the damage, while rerouting traffic and ensuring the safety of nearby communities.
Ongoing crisis, familiar struggles
For many in Bulacan, the flooding is not just a seasonal nuisance — it’s a recurring hardship that disrupts lives, halts work and schooling, and endangers homes.
With forecasts showing continued rains in the coming days, residents brace for more difficult hours ahead. While emergency teams remain on standby, residents like De Vera are left to do what they’ve always done: carry on — one soaked step at a time.