NO storm signal was declared in Pangasinan last week but the torrential rains brought by Typhoon Maring proved more vicious than Typhoon Labuyo’s Storm Signal #3 the previous week.

With practically nonstop rains for five days beginning August 17, flooding hit eight towns and two cities by August 21, displacing thousands of families.

These are: municipalities of Aguilar, Bugallon, Lingayen, Mangatarem, Calasiao, Bayambang, Sta. Barbara and Mangaldan; and the cities of Dagupan and Urdaneta.

The worst-affected towns and have declared a state of calamity are Aguilar, Bugallon, Calasiao, Mangatarem and Sta. Barbara, which along with Dagupan City, made a declaration of calamity for specific barangays that were affected.

As of August 23, classes in elementary and high school levels remained suspended on order of Gov. Amado Espino Jr. citing the flood which has not receded as of August 22.

DAGUPAN

The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) in Dagupan, in its regular session on Aug. 20, passed a resolution declaring a state of calamity in 19 flood-affected barangays.

Dagupan is the commercial and education center of the province.

Placed under a state of calamity per the resolution are: Pantal, Lasip Chico, Lasip Grande, Pogo Grande, Malued, Bacayao Sur, Bacayao Norte, Mayombo, Calmay, Lucao, Herrero-Perez, Barangay 2 & 3, Poblacion Oeste, Amado-Tapuac, Bonuan Boquig, Caranglaan, Bonuan Gueset and Barangay 1.

Councilor Alfie Fernandez moved for the declaration based on list submitted by Roland de Guzman, executive director of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) through Mayor Belen Fernandez.

The19 barangays were flooded due to combined heavy rains, cascading water from the Sinocalan River in Santa Barbara, and the rise of tidal water, especially in the morning.

The resolution, which was not objected to by any councilor, means that barangays can now use their respective calamity funds to buy relief goods for the affected residents, to be augmented by the relief goods from the city government.

Councilor Jose Netu Tamayo, chairman on public information of the SP, said that under Republic Act 10121, the barangays not included in the declaration can still be declared under a state of calamity depending on the level of impact of the disaster and with approval from the barangay council.

Fernandez said that more than 100 families from different flooded barangays were evacuated by the CDRRMC with the help of the Philippine Navy and the police to the Dagupan People’s Astrodome where they are assisted not only by the city government but various civic clubs and non-government organizations.

NAVY RESCUE

The Naval Forces Northern Luzon (NFNL), through its Regional Disaster Response Task Group (RDRTG), assisted in the rescue and relief operations in the province at the height of Typhoon Maring in the early part of last week.

A total of 87 families or 350 individuals from Dagupan City and Mangatarem were rescued and brought by the navy and its reservists personnel at the designated evacuation centers as of August 21, said Commander Levi Carane, public affairs officer of the Philippine Navy.

Commodore Alexander Lopez, acting commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, said almost 100 members of the AFP under the RDRTG1 were deployed in Regions 1 and 3 to help local governments in responding to the calamity situation.

EVACUATION

At the height of the flooding, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) reported that as of August 20 morning, 11 evacuation centers were set up in the affected towns and cities with 399 families or 1,827 individuals sheltered.

At that time, Urdaneta City recorded the highest number of families evacuated with 213 or 1,050 persons, followed by Bugallon with 88 families or 345 individuals.

In other areas, there are 50 family-evacuees (280 persons) in Aguilar, 44 family-evacuees (132 persons) in Calasiao, and five families (20 persons) evacuated in Lingayen.

Ret. Col. Fernando De Guzman, officer-in-charge at the PDRRMC, said the team remained on blue alert as the typhoon battered the province.–With reports from Johanne R. Macob, PIA-Pangasinan/VHS

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