STAKEHOLDERS in the City of San Fernando, chief among them is the city's volunteer citizen "flood-czar" Engr. Marni Castro, are organizing a summit aimed at addressing the perennial flooding problem.

This came in the wake of the heavy downpour that caused flashfloods along the major thoroughfares of the city on Thursday, October 3, which also caused power outages and stranded hundreds of passengers.

THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Central Luzon said that Castro, which the agency described as a staunch advocate against flooding, visited the DPWH office in tapping the City Government and private sector led by the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. to lead the proposed flood summit.

According to Castro, the engineering plan against flooding must be updated as the effects of climate change, including the sudden downpour of heavy rain that causes flash flood, is already being felt globally.

"In the City of San Fernando alone, the existing drainage systems are no longer sufficient to hold the volume of rainwater, thus causing flashfloods in our major streets," he said.

If left unresolved, Castro said flooding will worsen in the next two to three years and all low-lying areas in the province will be submerged in floodwaters.

Through the flood summit, Castro said local officials and stakeholders will be able to raise their concerns and proposals that fit their respective areas, which can be integrated to the government's engineering masterplan through the DPWH.

"Hopefully, we can create a holistic approach against flooding and update our masterplan before this perennial problem will wipe out our province from the map," he said.