MASANTOL, Pampanga—Gov. Dennis “Delta” Pineda kicked off his vice gubernatorial campaign on Wednesday in the towns of Masantol and Macabebe, where he helped implement major flood control projects completed last year by South Korea and the San Miguel Corp.
Pineda emphasized his commitment to bringing a variety of flood control projects to the coastal towns to safeguard the fishery and aquaculture industries, which serve as the primary livelihood for thousands of residents.
“Kahit po sanay na ang mga kabalen natin sa baha, kailangan po nating protektahan ang kanilang buhay at kabuhayan dahil sa climate change na nagdudulot ng mas grabeng bagyo, pagbaha o tagtuyot,” Pineda said, addressing the crowd before his motorcade in Barangay Consuelo, Macabebe.
Pampanga 4th District Rep. Dr. Anna York Bondoc, provincial board member candidates Dr. Kaye Naguit and Nestor “Bay” Tolentino, Nanay Party List first nominee Ananias “Jun” Canlas, Minalin Mayor Philip Naguit, Apalit Mayor Jun Tetangco (president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines-Pampanga chapter), and Macabebe Vice Mayor Vince Flores joined or trailed the motorcade.
At various stops in villages, locals who had waited by the roadside for the motorcade also shouted “Nanay,” referring to Vice Gov. Lilia Pineda, who is running for governor in the upcoming election.
In August 2024, Pineda and Bondoc participated in the inauguration of the Integrated Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation Project – Stage 1 (IDRR-CCA 1) in Masantol, a collaborative effort between the South Korean and Philippine governments.
The project aims to alleviate the long-term impacts of the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo, which had silted and obstructed waterways in the province.
Stage 2 of the IDRR-CCA project is designed to further reduce flood levels and duration in Macabebe, Masantol, Minalin, and Sto. Tomas—from 68 days to just 17 days.
Complementing this initiative, SMC’s “Better Rivers PH” program completed a massive cleanup of the Pampanga River downstream in late 2024.
Led by SMC chairman and CEO Ramon S. Ang, the effort removed nearly 700,000 tons of silt and solid waste from a 26.3-kilometer stretch of the river. The initiative deepened the river channels, improved water flow, and significantly mitigated flooding in low-lying areas.
Macabebe Vice Mayor Flores praised the cleanup effort, highlighting its impact in reducing flooding and protecting vital infrastructure.
In August 2023, Pineda secured SMC’s assistance in desilting the mouth of the Pampanga River, which had become heavily clogged after four successive typhoons caused widespread flooding across the province. Team Delta
