11/09/2026
NEWS | PBBM visits lahar-afflicted community in San Marcelino, demands immediate rehabilitation
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. personally visited Barangay Sta. Fe, San Marcelino, Zambales, to check on the residents of the lahar-afflicted village due to immense flooding on Wednesday, September 2.
The president initiated the visit, following an inspection in Tarlac to oversee the affected regions during the surge of typhoons in the Philippines.
The intensified rains caused by the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) during Typhoon ‘Maymay’ have inundated the river, sweeping away the steel bridge that links the area to the town proper, further isolating the village and cutting off immediate aid to locals.
Consequently, the continuous rush of Habagat has aggravated the mudflow, which caused damage to other important facilities in the community, including 12 to 26 classrooms of Sta. Fe National High School.
The extent of the damage prompted an immediate response from Marcos, thereby prioritizing the restoration of major facilities and services, including the repair of classrooms and the installation of a makeshift wooden bridge to facilitate the delivery of assistance, while authorities plan a permanent replacement.
The visit included Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon, Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., and Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara, who facilitated an immediate inspection of vital infrastructure, the current status of education, agriculture, and other areas for immediate interventions.
Other officials such as Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., Zambales congressional representatives Jay Khonghun and Doris Maniquiz, San Marcelino Mayor Elvis Soria, DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao, DSWD Field Office 3 (FO 3) Regional Director Venus F. Rebuldela, and DSWD FO 3 Assistant Regional Director for Operations Armont C. Pecina have also joined to offer services.
According to initial reports by the residents of Sta. Fe, the village has been stranded for almost a month and has relied on available resources and efforts to withstand the onslaught of the typhoon.
The DSWD “Angels in Red Vests” has taken immediate action by distributing Family Food Packs (FFPs), Family Kits, and cash assistance worth ₱10,000 to 1,000 families, in line with the supplementary aid initiatives of the government under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program.
Furthermore, with the continuous threats of the Southwest monsoon, the DSWD FO 3 pledges consistent assistance and surveillance of the affected areas, including Sta. Fe, as mandated by the sector.
This initiative aims to ensure that no family is left behind or left to starve during times of adversity.
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Report by Francheska Gabrielle Penuliar/The FOREFRONT
Layout by James Dominic Ortega/TheFOREFRONT
