Flood Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in San Simon, Pampanga: A Study of Flood Preparedness and Community Resilience as an Input for Flood Solutions Development

Flooding remains a significant concern across the Philippines, particularly in low-lying provinces
such as Pampanga, which ranks among the top flood-prone provinces in the country. San Simon, one of
the municipalities in Pampanga, frequently experiences flooding due to its topographic characteristics,
such as having a low elevation, its proximity to the Pampanga River, and being surrounded by highlands.
Additionally, these vulnerabilities are further exacerbated by its geographic features, such as the presence
of multiple aquaculture and agricultural lands, including the onset of industrialization in the municipality,
all of which increase the residents’ exposure to frequent flooding and flood risks.
The municipality of San Simon’s current state of flood risk reduction and management was assessed
in this study. A triangulation approach under a mixed-method design was employed to validate and
integrate data gathered from quantitative surveys conducted among the residents, qualitative interviews
with local officials, and the observational analysis from barangays. The assessment tools used were based
on existing regulations and organized into the four thematic areas under Republic Act No. 10121, also
known as the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010.
The findings revealed the multiple current initiatives on flood risk reduction and management.
However, the results also highlighted notable gaps and deficiencies across each thematic phase, indicating
the necessity for intervention and improvement. The identified gaps and deficiencies served as the basis
of this study into formulating and proposing flood management plans aimed at enhancing the
municipality’s level of flood disaster risk reduction and management