THE provincial government of Pangasinan has received ₱50 million from the Office of the President to support ongoing recovery and rehabilitation efforts following the devastation caused by Super Typhoon Uwan.

Vice Governor Mark Ronald Lambino, presiding officer of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, said the provincial board approved on Monday a resolution authorizing Governor Ramon Guico III to accept the donation from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s office.

“This assistance will go directly to recovery programs for our affected communities, especially those in coastal barangays,” Lambino said, noting that the province remains under a state of calamity due to the typhoon’s impact. Hard-hit areas include San Fabian, Dagupan, Binmaley, Lingayen, Labrador, Sual, and neighboring coastal towns.

Lambino said the amount will be incorporated into the provincial government’s action plan, which is now being finalized. The fund will prioritize the rehabilitation of damaged homes, assistance to displaced fisherfolk, and support for those who lost their livelihood—including those affected by the destruction of fish pens, fish cages, and fishing boats.

While national agencies have extended help, Lambino admitted the scale of destruction remains overwhelming. “Our agricultural and aquafisheries sectors suffered major losses. Damages have reached around ₱1.3 billion,” he said.

Of this amount, about ₱605 million was recorded in fisheries, ₱562 million in high-value crops, ₱102 million in palay, and ₱37 million in corn, according to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

The typhoon also damaged 34,618 houses across Pangasinan, with at least 2,980 deemed uninhabitable.

Despite infrastructure damage being relatively low, Lambino said the typhoon’s strong winds severely hit agriculture and fisheries. Just one or two days after the storm, the price of bangus dropped to as low as ₱30 to ₱60 per kilo due to the massive losses in aquaculture.

Lambino emphasized that the ₱50-million aid is only the first step. “This will help jump-start rehabilitation, but we know the damage is extensive. More assistance will be needed to help our people recover,” he said. (Eva Visperas)