Dagupan looks back, moves on
19 YEARS AFTER THE KILLER QUAKE
WHEN the clock strikes 3:26 pm on July 16, the siren atop the public market in Dagupan will blare for 30 seconds to remind residents to pause and say a prayer as they remember the tragedy that struck the city 19 years ago.
Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr. called on all Dagupenos and visitors to observe a moment of silence and pause from all activities to remember the disaster brought about by the earthquake then, offer a prayer for all those who lost their lives in the country on that fateful day, and ponder and reflect on the importance of preparedness whenever a disaster strikes.
“We must remember that Dagupan was destroyed but it was not defeated. The feat of rebuilding from so great a devastation in so short a time attests to the resiliency of the Dagupeños,” Fernandez.
The July 16, 1990 earthquake that hit northern Luzon to date remains one of the largest and costliest natural disasters in recent years, with a toll of 1,600 deaths, damaging P6 billion worth of public infrastructures and buildings, along with the collapse of bridges and other structures.
“Through our shared efforts, tenacity, and ingenuity, we have rebuilt our city with the help of proud sons of Dagupan like Speaker Jose De Venecia. In just three years, we have reclaimed our prestige as the prime city in the province,” Fernandez said.
The mayor added Dagupan is now acclaimed a global model on disaster preparedness, citing its strong capacity-building programs, the launching of the Emergency Operations Center, the Citizens Helpline and its strong partnerships with the community, sharing its best practices to local and international communities for many years now.
The city will observe the remembrance of the July 16, 1990 earthquake with a simple memorial and a renewal of pledge of non-government organizations and volunteer groups to fully participate in the emergency preparedness, disaster response, rehabilitation and renewal initiatives of the city.
Full Recovery
Meanwhile, Dr. Salvador Duque, prime mover of the Metro Dagupan Civilian Earth-quake Reconstruction Fund Foundation (MDCERF), said the city that was once in ruins after the quake, said the city “in no time rose like a phoenix to the rising sun, thanks to the united action undertaken by its citizens”.
The chancellor of the Duque-owned Lyceum Northwestern University told the KBP that Dagupan is now full of life again 24 hours a day because “all citizens, businessmen, politicians and media men came forward to help lay the foundation for a new Dagupan.”
He also said without the help of the media, reconstruction of Dagupan would have taken much longer.
When asked if MDCERF is ready to fold up since its mission has been accomplished, Duque replied in the negative.
He said the group, Dr. Vivencio Villaflor Jr., medical director of the Dagupan Doctors Villaflor Hospital, is now focusing its energies in lobbying for more funds and infrastructure projects for the now expanded Greater Metro Dagupan.—LM
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