President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the inauguration of the Integrated Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation Project – Stage 1 (IDRR-CCA 1) in Masantol, Pampanga on 7 August 2024.

Also present at the inauguration were House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the Philippines Lee Sang-hwa, DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, Pampanga Governor Dennis ‘Delta’ Pineda, Pampanga 4th District Rep. Anna York Bondoc and Masantol Mayor Jose Antonio C. Bustos.

The Department of Public Works and Highways – Unified Project Management Office (DPWH-UPMO) Flood Control Management Cluster’s infrastructure project aims to protect Pampanga’s low-lying areas including Macabebe, Masantol, Minalin, Sto. Tomas and Apalit.

It also aims to enhance drainage in key river channels like the Third River, Eastern Branch River, Caduang Tete and Sapang Maragul River.

Moreover, the IDRR-CCA 1 project is part of the broader initiatives by the Climate Change Commission (CCC), which has been actively engaged in climate adaptation studies and community outreach in Region III or Central Luzon.

Overall, the inauguration marks a significant step in enhancing the country’s resilience to natural disasters and mitigating the adverse effects of climate change.