Pangasinan under state of calamity
7 TOWNS BADLY HIT
LINGAYEN—The entire province has been placed under a state of calamity following vast damages wrought by days of monsoon rains, which also severely affected the capital Metro Manila and central Luzon, and the release of water from the San Roque Dam since 10:00 p.m. of Aug. 2.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) passed Resolution No. 349-2012 declaring a state of calamity for Pangasinan during a special session called by Governor Amado Espino Jr. early Thursday afternoon.
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) reported that as of 5:00 p.m. of August 8, a total of 14,057 families or 67,456 persons had been affected.
PDRRMC Spokesperson Avenix Arenas said the worst flooding was noted in towns of Bugallon, Aguilar, Binmaley, Urbiztondo, Mangatarem, Lingayen and Bautista, all along the Agno River to where the San Roque dam is discharging its water.
Flooding was also noted in baranagays of Calasiao and Sta. Barbara, both lying along the swollen Sinocalan River, and in Mangaldan, along the Patalan-Sinocalan River; and in Sison, along the Bued River.
The declaration of state of calamity means that all local government units in Pangasinan, except Dagupan which is an independent component city, can now use their Quick Response Fund, representing 30 per cent of their Disaster Risk Reduction Fund in rehabilitating their flooded areas as well as in purchasing relief goods for distribution to their affected constituents.
Arenas said the terms for the declaration are provided in Republic Act 10121 which took effect in 2010.
CALIMLIM
Vice Gov. Jose Ferdinand Calimlim Jr., presiding officer of the SP, said the declaration was not only substantiated by the report from the PDRRMC “but also to the effect on the lives of Pangasinenses”.
“This is aggravated by the continuous downpour, which is expected to bring in more damages which had inundated several agricultural fields,” Calimlim added.
The provincial government has set aside a P160-million calamity fund for this year.
DAMAGES, CASUALTIES
The PDRRMC estimate initial damages in infrastructures at P114 million while damages to fishery and agriculture were still being evaluated.
In San Carlos City, Estrelita Cabansag, city agriculturist, said rice lands in her area that have come under water reached 498.3 hectares in tillering stage, but with chances of recovery in 41 out of 86 barangays.
Also, 16 hectares of vegetable plants in five barangays and another 17 hectares of fishponds were affected.
Two persons have been confirmed to have drowned, one an unidentified female found floating along the Bued River, and Reynaldo Padilla of Balungao whole fell into the river while reportedly drunk.
A 16-year old boy in Manaoag who fell into the Sinocalan River is still missing. (See related story under Crime Watch)
DAGUPAN
In Dagupan, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported that 17 barangays in the city have experienced flooding since August 7.
Some areas in barangays Lasip Chico and Bacayao Sur have three-feet deep floodwaters while Lasip Grande, Bonuan Binloc, Bonuan Boquig (Gonzales St.), two feet; Malued (Claveria Rd. and Zone 80),1-1.5feet, and Bonuan Gueset (Las Vegas, Bonuan Barrio and Bonuan Blue Beach), Pogo Grande and Pogo Chico experienced one foot of floodwater.
Other barangays including Herrero-Perez, Calmay, Barangay II and III, Poblacion Oeste, Tapuac, Bacayao Norte Lucao and Mayombo had areas with floodwaters measuring 2 to 10 inches.
In an interview, CDRRMC member Arlene Agpoon said although Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (BDRRMCs) have identified possible evacuation centers in their respective areas, no area has been identified where residents saw the need to evacuate.
As rainwaters from upstream coupled with continuous moderate rainfall of 7.0 mm. threatened to increase floodwaters in Dagupan, the CDRRMC, in close coordination with the 31 BDRRMCs, the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Red Cross, was on a red alert status to respond to any emergency situation.
DAM MONITORING
In a related development, Fourth District Rep. Gina de Venecia has renewed her call for the passage of the House Bill 6003, An Act Establishing A National Inter-Agency Dam Safety Monitoring Committee For Proper And Effective Dam Monitoring System, which she filed.
De Venecia said the sudden release of big volume of water from the San Roque Dam in San Manuel town in 2009 that inundated Pangasinan, among the worst affected were parts of her district, must be a wake- up call for the need to have a national policy on dam monitoring and quick announcement on dam water release to prevent heavy losses.
Using funds from her Countrywide Development Fund, De Venecia bankrolled the construction of a protective slope and spur dike in Barangay Binday, San Fabian amounting to P35-million to help stop flooding.
She also financed several drainage systems that were completed last June in several parts the 4th District to avoid a repeat of the massive flooding brought by typhoon Pepeng in 2009. (with reports from Eva Visperas, CIO)
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