DAGUPAN City was placed on alert by Mayor Belen Fernandez last Thursday when the level of water of the Sinocalan River that drains into the city before it empties into the Lingayen Gulf reached 6.90 meters above sea level, near the critical level of 7.0 masl.

She issued the alert after the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) of Sta. Barbara warned the townspeople, particularly those living near the swelling Sinocalan River, to prepare to evacuate to higher grounds.

The water of the Sinocalan River flows from Mt. Ampucao in Tuba, Benguet, which disgorges its water down to Tagamusing River in Binalonan, then to Macalong River and  San Jose River, both in Urdaneta.

Several barangays of Dagupan, particularly near the banks of the Pantal River, that includes parts of the central business district, particularly in the junction of Arellano Street, Del Pilar Street and A.B. Fernandez Avenue East where there are ongoing construction of a bigger drainage system, were already severely affected by flooding.

The flooding in Dagupan was exacerbated by high tide coming from adjacent rivers, because the city’s elevation of one meter below sea level.

Upon arrival from a personal leave, Mayor Fernandez, accompanied by personnel of the CSWDO, CDRRMO, PNP and BFP, immediately led the distribution of DSWD relief packs to residents of barangays most affected by Typhoon Egay, that included Barangay Herrero Perez East.

As this developed, thirteen low-lying areas of Calasiao town were already under water. These are Talibaew, Mancup, Banaoang, Lasip, Gabon, San Vicente, Lumbang, part of Songcoy, Longos, Poblacion East, Poblacion West and Nalsian, all near the Marusay River which is connected to the Sinocalan River. (Leonardo Micua)

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