THE Dagupan City People’s Astrodome was packed with evacuees from various flooded barangays even until last Friday, but the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (CDRRMC) did not deem it necessary to recommend a declaration of state of calamity.

City Administrator Vlad Mata, also the CDRRMC executive officer, indicated in a statement issued at the height of the flood that city hall was not keen on submitting a recommendation to the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) to pass a resolution declaring a state of calamity, which would have paved the way for the release of calamity funds.

Barangay chairmen were urging for a state of calamity declaration but Mata said even without a declaration, the barangay officials can withdraw up to 30 per cent of their calamity fund based on Republic Act No. 10120.

Dagupan’s 15 out 31 barangays were flooded and the City Schools Division suspended classes in the elementary and high school levels on Wednesday and remained suspended in the remaining flooded areas the following days.

Mata pointed out that the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Act also allows barangay officials to use 70 per cent of their calamity fund in preparation for disasters.

Dagupan City was one of the worst flooded in Pangasinan last week as rains dumped by Typhoon Mina was compounded by the daily high tide from adjacent rivers, making it difficult for run-off water to exit to the Lingayen Gulf.

As an independent component city of Pangasinan, Dagupan is not covered by the previous declaration of a state of calamity for Pangasinan made in October last year.

But it will be recalled, even without a resolution from the SP, city hall drew money from the calamity fund to buy relief goods for the flood victims in a few barangays using the provincial declaration as basis.

Mata cited RA 10120 to justify the city’s action.

This was promptly refuted by Councilor Alfie Fernandez, a lawyer, saying a local government unit still needs to declare a state of calamity when releasing even just the quick response portion of the calamity fund.

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