Dagupan City under state of calamity
SEVERE FLOODING
ACTING on the recommendation of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC), the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) placed the city under state of calamity through Resolution No. 5156 adopted during a special session on Friday, September 19, noting the extensive flooding in the aftermath of Typhoon Luis and the expected aggravation of the situation with the onset of Typhoon Mario.
City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) headed by Ronaldo de Guzman, reported that the accumulated amount of rainfall in areas in the Agno and Allied River-Basin alone had already reached 223.57 millimeters in the last 66 hours even as the city continued to experience continuous torrential rains brought about by Typhoon Mario early Friday afternoon.
The resolution also acknowledged that the Sinocalan River, which flows into the Pantal River in Dagupan, already recorded water levels above its seven-meter critical level for more than two consecutive days, causing massive flooding to low areas lying along its path.
In passing the resolution, the SP observed that various barangays in the city are still under floodwater affecting a large number of the population.
P/Supt. Christopher Abrahano, Dagupan police chief and closely working with the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC), disclosed that as of Thursday, 26 out of the 31 barangays remain under water while nine of these barangays were experiencing severe flooding.
The SP said the resolution will facilitate the mobilization of the Quick Response Fund from the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund for the immediate provision and distribution of relief materials to the affected population; prompt implementation of recovery and rehabilitation activities to augment the capacity of affected barangays; and imposition of price control monitoring for basic commodities.
According to City Administrator Farah Decano, the city government “is well prepared to handle the emergency facing it”
City Administrator Decano gets field reports from CDRRMC volunteers
“Mayor Belen Fernandez continues to monitor the situation and is constantly updated,” she added.
Decano said she was confident that the training and logistical support given the CDRRMC by the city government in the past “will come to the fore during these times.”
“Everyone will be cared for to the best of the CDRRMC volunteers’ capabilities,” Decano said.
FLOODED BARANGAYS
Some 45 families comprising 189 persons remain in the evacuation center in the Dagupan City People’s Astrodome who are mostly from barangay Malued as the flood waters there remain waist-deep and was expected rise to chest level on Friday.
Among the other barangays experiencing severe flooding until Friday were Bacayao Sur, Bacayao Norte, Salisay and Mangin.
“We are expecting that the flood waters will again rise based on the advisory of weather stations that Typhoon Mario will bring extreme rainfall”, said Abrahano.
CDRRMC was on red alert status since Friday and barangay officials in flood prone barangays were directed to implement preemptive evacuation among their constituents to centers such as City Astrodome, Judge Jose De Venecia Senior Memorial National High School in Bolosan, East Central integrated School in Mayombo, Mangin Elem school, Bacayao Norte elem school. All other schools have been prepared to accept evacuees.
The other barangay officials were given discretion to enforce evacuation measures if they deemed it necessary for the safety of their constituents.
Consequently, classes in all levels as well as work in government offices except for those involved in disaster preparedness and management were suspended last Friday.
Meanwhile, prices of basic commodities have been ordered frozen as mandated by the declaration of state of calamity.
“With the declaration of state of calamity there is the automatic imposition of price control, granting of calamity loan from the Social Security System other institutions can be availed by members and also the barangay officials are now authorized to use their calamity funds”, said Abrahano.
He urged the public to be alert and take precautionary measures during these calamities. (Hilda M. Austria/PNA/CIO- Felisandelle C. De Vera)
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