ANOTHER rise of tidal water in Dagupan City before noon Friday, aggravating floodwater in the 19 barangays placed the city last Tuesday by the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) under a state of calamity.

The high tide brought in water from adjacent rivers forced 399 evacuees to remain at the Dagupan City People’s Astrodome further extending their forced evacuation after three days.

As this developed, relief operations personally spearheaded by Mayor Belen Fernandez continues on high gear in the flooded barangays with the aid of the Philippine Navy that sent to Dagupan three six-by-six trucks.

The Philippine Army also sent an ambulance truck with three medical teams who are also assisting the evacuees.

According to Ronald de Guzman, executive officer of the City Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC), the evacuees at the Dagupan City Astrodome are being attended to by the City Health Office, Nutrition Office as well as the City Social Welfare and Development teams.

At presstime, De Guzman said floodwater level is still high in Barangays Lasip Chico, Malued, Lasip Grande, Bacayao Sur, Bacayao Norte, Herrero Perez, Pogo Grande and Pogo Chico, all located in the southern barngays of the city, and in Barangay Lucao, Poblacion Oeste, Tapuac and Barangay 2 and 3.

He noted that the flooded southern barangays of Dagupan are close to the Sinocalan River where water from upland flow before exiting to the Lingayen Gulf.

DPWH

Meanwhile, District Engineer Elpidio Paragas of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said the damage to the city due to flooding could have been worse if not for the elevated roads and enlarged drainage system projects that were recently completed.

“The expanded drainage systems and the seven elevated roads were able to contain the flooding, initially. However, the situation last week was not normal. So, lahat flooded, not only Dagupan, but in the 16 provinces of Luzon as well,” Paragas said.

“Dagupan, as we know, is almost below sea level. The abnormally large volume of rainwater brought about by Maring would naturally result in severe flooding as what happened… You just can’t contain the surface run-off if the water volume was in that proportion,” he added.

To further help decrease the incidence of flooding, Paragas confirmed that aside from the elevated roads and bigger drainage systems, the DPWH has already programmed the dredging of Pantal River as one of its priority projects.

The roads and drainage projects prioritized by 4th District Rep. Gina De Venecia and the DPWH to help abate flooding in Dagupan City are located in Tapuac District, A.B. Fernandez Avenue, De Venecia Hi-Way, Mayombo District, Malued District, Bonuan Boquig and Arellano Street.

Paragas also addressed the criticism hurled on these projects, particularly the presence of cement cracks in A.B. Fernandez Avenue road, saying, “The superficial cement cracks at the newly finished A.B. Fernandez Avenue are caused by the abrupt change in temperature due to weather condition, and it’s considered natural in engineering practice. We are already addressing that by using pressurized epoxy, as advised by the quality control engineers of the DPWH.”

He noted that the spur dike and river protection project along Manguragday River in Dagupan City, which was also initiated by De Venecia, proved effective.

“It stood the weather and no more soil erosion was experienced in the area. The 30 million project that span 300 linear meters in Barangay Bonuan Binloc is now 90 percent complete and due to be finished in fifteen days,” said Paragas.

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