Pampanga River
Encyclopedia
Pampanga River is the second largest river
in the island
of Luzon
, next to Cagayan River
and the third largest river in the Philippines
. It is located in the Central Luzon
region and traverses the provinces of Pampanga
, Nueva Ecija
, Bulacan
, Tarlac
and Quezon
.
and runs a south and southwesterly course for about 260 kilometers until it drains into Manila Bay
.
The river's basin covers an area of 10,540 km²., including the allied basin of Guagua River. The basin is drained through the Pampanga River and via the Labangan Channel into the Manila Bay.
Its main tributaries are Peñaranda and the Coronel-Santor Rivers on the eastern side of the basin and the Rio Chico River from the northwest side. The Angat River joins the Pampanga River at Calumpit, Bulacan
via the Bagbag River. Mount Arayat (elevation: 1,026) stands in the middle of the basin. Southeast of Mount Arayat and the Pampanga River is the Candaba Swamp, covering an area of some 250 km². absorbing most of the flood flows from the western slopes of a portion of the Sierra Madre and the overflowing of the Pampanga River via the Cabiao Floodway. This area is submerged during the rainy season but is relatively dry during summer.
located in the Pantabangan River (one of the rivers in the Pampanga River basin) in Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija
provides irrigation for the farms in the province of Nueva Ecija
and Tarlac
.
At the lower sections of the basin, where the Pampanga delta lies, the Pampanga River system divides into small branches, crisscrossed with fishponds to form a network of sluggish, tidal flats and canals, which eventually find their way to Manila Bay.
With the anticipated completion of the Pampanga Delta Project (DPWH), it is expected that flood flows at the lower section of the Pampanga River will recede at a much faster rate than before.
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
in the island
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
of Luzon
Luzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
, next to Cagayan River
Cagayan River
The Cagayan River is the longest and largest river in the Philippine Archipelago. It is located in the Cagayan Valley region in northeastern part of Luzon island and traverses the provinces of Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Isabela and Cagayan.-Topography:...
and the third largest river in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. It is located in the Central Luzon
Central Luzon
Central Luzon , also known as Region III , is an administrative division or region of the Republic of the Philippines, primarily serve to organize the 7 provinces of the vast central plain of the island of Luzon , for administrative convenience...
region and traverses the provinces of Pampanga
Pampanga
Pampanga is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is the City of San Fernando, Pampanga. Pampanga is bordered by the provinces of Bataan and Zambales to the west, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija to the north, and Bulacan to the southeast...
, Nueva Ecija
Nueva Ecija
Nueva Ecija is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is Palayan City...
, Bulacan
Bulacan
Bulacan , officially called the Province of Bulacan or simply Bulacan Province, is a first class province of the Republic of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon Region in the island of Luzon, north of Manila , and part of the Metro...
, Tarlac
Tarlac
Tarlac is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the Luzon Island. Its capital is Tarlac City. Tarlac borders Pampanga to the south, Nueva Ecija to the east, Pangasinan to the north, and Zambales to the west...
and Quezon
Quezon
-History:Originally, what now forms Quezon was divided among the provinces of Batangas, Laguna, and Nueva Ecija. The area was first explored by Juan de Salcedo in 1571-1572, during his expedition from Laguna to Camarines provinces....
.
Topography
Its headwaters are located at the Sierra MadreSierra Madre (Philippines)
The Sierra Madre is a mountain range in The Philippines. It is located along the north-eastern coast of Luzon Island, running north/south. Quezon National Forest Park is situated in the range.-Geography:...
and runs a south and southwesterly course for about 260 kilometers until it drains into Manila Bay
Manila Bay
Manila Bay is a natural harbor which serves the Port of Manila , in the Philippines.The bay is considered to be one of the best natural harbors in Southeast Asia and one of the finest in the world...
.
The river's basin covers an area of 10,540 km²., including the allied basin of Guagua River. The basin is drained through the Pampanga River and via the Labangan Channel into the Manila Bay.
Its main tributaries are Peñaranda and the Coronel-Santor Rivers on the eastern side of the basin and the Rio Chico River from the northwest side. The Angat River joins the Pampanga River at Calumpit, Bulacan
Calumpit, Bulacan
CALUMPIT is a 1st class urban municipality in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 98,017 people in 16,167 households.-Physical and Socio-Political:Land Area: 5,625 has.No...
via the Bagbag River. Mount Arayat (elevation: 1,026) stands in the middle of the basin. Southeast of Mount Arayat and the Pampanga River is the Candaba Swamp, covering an area of some 250 km². absorbing most of the flood flows from the western slopes of a portion of the Sierra Madre and the overflowing of the Pampanga River via the Cabiao Floodway. This area is submerged during the rainy season but is relatively dry during summer.
Flooding
The basin experiences, on an average, at least one flooding in a year. The dry season generally occurs from December to May, and wet the rest of the year. The wettest months are from July to September.The Pampanga River Basin could handle between 100-130mm of 24 Hour Rainfall. Extensive flooding occurred at the Pampanga River Basin in May 1966 during Typhoon Irma (Klaring),May and June 1976 during Typhoon Olga (Didang) in May and Typhoon Ruby (Isang) in June 1976, June, July and August 1972 during the passage of Typhoon Ora (Konsing) over Luzon in June and a very slow moving Typhoon Susan (Edeng) that made landfall for more than 24 hours in Luzon during July and with the SW Monsoon it brought continuous heavy rains between July 6-11 then formed Super Typhoon Rita (Gloring) and Typhoon Tess over the Philippine Sea and Enhanced Very Heavy SW Monsoonal Flow which brought Continuous Heavy Rainfall Between July 17-21 over Luzon and in Addition Tropical Storm Winnie, Typhoon Alice Enhanced more Strong SW Monsoonal Flow Which Brought More Rains over Luzon Between July 25-August 5 with very intense Rains falling Between July 27-August 3 then Super Typhoon Betty (Maring) Brought More Rains over Luzon Between Aug 13-18 other Destructive Flooding Occurred in June 1985 when Typhoon Hal (Kuring) and Typhoon Irma (Daling) Enhanced Heavy SW Monsoon Flow Causing Extensive Flooding in LuzonEconomic importance
At the higher sections of the basin, dams especially the Pantabangan DamPantabangan Dam
Pantabangan Dam is an earth-fill embankment dam on the Pampanga River located near Pantabangan in Nueva Ecija province of the Philippines. The multi-purpose dam provides water for irrigation and hydroelectric power generation while its reservoir affords flood control. The reservoir is considered...
located in the Pantabangan River (one of the rivers in the Pampanga River basin) in Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija
Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija
Pantabangan is a 4th class municipality in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 25,520 people in 4,808 households. This is the site of the Pantabangan dam.-History:...
provides irrigation for the farms in the province of Nueva Ecija
Nueva Ecija
Nueva Ecija is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is Palayan City...
and Tarlac
Tarlac
Tarlac is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the Luzon Island. Its capital is Tarlac City. Tarlac borders Pampanga to the south, Nueva Ecija to the east, Pangasinan to the north, and Zambales to the west...
.
At the lower sections of the basin, where the Pampanga delta lies, the Pampanga River system divides into small branches, crisscrossed with fishponds to form a network of sluggish, tidal flats and canals, which eventually find their way to Manila Bay.
With the anticipated completion of the Pampanga Delta Project (DPWH), it is expected that flood flows at the lower section of the Pampanga River will recede at a much faster rate than before.