Dagupan in state of calamity
DUE TO STORM SURGE, TIDAL RISE, QUAKE
GIANT waves fanned by a northeast wind surge, flood caused by the rise of tide and the intensity 5.8 earthquake that shook the city on Tuesday conspired to compel the city council to pass two urgent resolutions to address the calamity.
The city council, presided over by Acting Vice Mayor Farah Decano, met in a special session to pass two urgent resolutions declaring a state of calamity and placing the city under a state of imminent danger of calamities.
The resolutions, authored by Councilors Danilo Torio and Michael Fernandez, readily won the nod of all eight city councilors present.
Rough waves as high as eight feet caused by the exiting Super Typhoon ‘Mina’ destroyed 83 houses and beach sheds at Tondaligan Park, sitio Pagkakaisa, Gawad Kalinga-Bangusville and Bagong Barrio.
Evacuation centers were set up for 237 families with 857 people at the Sabangan Elementary School, North Central Elementary School, Administration Building at Tondaligan Park, Senior Citizens Center, Tondaligan Amphitheatre, Mayor’s Shed and the Bonuan Elementary School.
As the coastal residents were being evacuated, flooding due to high tide started in the evening, causing panic to residents.
Even the city hall premises were under water as a result of high tide as sea water entered the downtown area, including Arellano Street, Dior Village and A. Fernandez Avenue through outflow canals.
City Information Officer Ryan Ravanzo explained that the resolution declaring the city under a state of calamity was sought by City Administrator Alvin Fernandez in the wake of the seemingly wholesale destruction that struck residents.
The resolution will speed up relief and rehabilitation of the affected areas of the city using the 5% calamity fund of the city.
The resolution placing the city under the state of imminent danger of calamities will enable the officials to use the calamity fund for disaster preparedness and in buying equipment that will be needed by the emergency operations center.
Councilor Jesus said disaster preparedness is urgently needed in view of the fact that two more typhoons are expected to hit the country before the end of the year and the city officials and personnel want to be equipped and organized to save lives.
On the earthquake on Tuesday noon, City Engineer Virginia Rosario reported to the City Disaster Coordinating Council that following inspection, all public buildings in the city did not incur any damage.—LM
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