RIVERS HIT CRITICAL LEVEL DUE TO RAINS

COMBINED rains from the southwest monsoon or habagat and a series of typhoons over the last two weeks triggered flooding in many parts of Pangasinan, prompting so far 11 local government units – including commercial center Dagupan City and the capital town of Lingayen – to declare a state of calamity.

The other localities under a state of calamity as of July 25 are: the cities of San Carlos City and Urdaneta, and the towns of Binmaley, Calasiao, Malasiqui, Mangaldan, Mangatarem, Sta. Barbara, and Umingan.

With the declaration, local governments will be able to access emergency funds and provide faster relief services.

Heavier rainfall was expected by Thursday until the weekend with the onslaught of Typhoon Emong (International name: Go-may).

As of Thursday evening, the coastal towns of Anda, Bolinao, Bani, Alaminos City, Burgos, Dasol, Mabini, and Sual were placed by the weather bureau PAGASA under cyclone wind signal #4, and other parts of the province under signal #3 or #2.

Before Emong, several rivers overflowed as they rose above the critical level, including the Sinocalan River in Sta. Barbara, the Marusay River in Calasiao that flows into Dagupan’s Pantal River before exiting to the Lingayen Gulf.

The provincial, city, and municipal disaster management teams implemented preemptive evacuation for residents in high-risk areas.

At the Pangasinan Provincial Capitol, Vice Governor Mark Lambino said the Camiling River in Tarlac, located near the border with Pangasinan, overflowed and the water was moving towards the Agno River that exits to the Lingayen Gulf through Bugallon town.

Calasiao Mayor Patrick Agustin Caramat said evacuation was enforced in 10 barangays as of Monday, and they were expecting more in the coming days.

He also reminded residents, particularly those in low-lying areas, not to allow children to swim or play in floodwaters or near rivers, as conditions remain dangerous.

“We are coordinating closely with all agencies to ensure the safety of our people. Please evacuate while it’s still safe to do so,” he said.

Caramat said 17 out of 24 barangays in Calasiao were severely inundated, displacing over 18,000 residents and causing major damage to agriculture, infrastructure, and livelihoods.

“The true strength of our town is measured during times of disaster. In Calasiao, we will face and overcome this challenge together,” he said in a public statement posted on Facebook.

In Sta. Barbara, Mayor Carlito Zaplan reported that several areas experienced significant flooding due to the overflowing of the Marusay River.

Dagupan Mayor Belen Fernandez, on the morning of July 24, issued an appeal on her official Facebook page for all residents in low-lying areas to move to evacuation centers before 2 p.m. as a precaution against a potential storm surge due to Typhoon Emong.

In Umingan, the council-approved resolution declaring a state of calamity cited that the impact of Typhoon Crising (international name: Wipha) led to the displacement of residents, disruption of basic services, and significant losses to the local economy and people’s livelihoods. (Leonardo Micua/Eva Visperas/Ahikam Pasion)

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