The Pampanga provincial government has intensified sandbagging and pumping operations at the NLEX San Simon Exit to help contain flooding caused by continuous heavy rains and ease the impact on motorists and local commerce.

The provincial government began the operations Wednesday night, deploying three dump trucks loaded with sand and preparing 1,500 sandbags for use in preventing and controlling floodwater overflow in the area.

Personnel from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), General Services Office (GSO), Provincial Engineering Office (PEO), and Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB) Region 3 were mobilized for the operations.

Vice Governor Dennis “Delta” Pineda also deployed portable pumps to help accelerate the removal of floodwater at the San Simon Exit.

The operation aims to reduce traffic disruptions and minimize the impact of flooding on the movement of people, goods, and commerce in Pampanga.

As of 7:50 a.m. Thursday, September 3, NLEX reported water buildup across all lanes in Tulaoc, San Simon, and the San Simon Interchange.

In the southbound direction, Lanes 1 and 2 in Tulaoc remained passable to all vehicle classes, while Lane 3 was impassable, with an estimated 100-meter traffic buildup.

At the San Simon Interchange southbound, Lane 1 remained passable to all vehicles, while Lane 2 was limited to Class 2 and 3 vehicles. Lane 3 was impassable, with traffic buildup estimated at 300 meters.

Northbound, Lane 1 at both Tulaoc and the San Simon Interchange remained passable to all vehicle types. Lane 2 was limited to Class 2 and 3 vehicles, while Lane 3 remained impassable.

NLEX also reported heavy traffic of around two kilometers at Tulaoc and slow-moving traffic stretching approximately one kilometer at the San Simon Interchange.

The provincial government said the sandbagging and pumping operations would continue as necessary to help manage floodwaters and maintain safer passage for motorists.