By Leonardo Micua

 

THE Visayas continues to recover from a string of natural disasters, including the magnitude 7.2 earthquake that devastated Cebu, the lingering effects of La Niña, and the recent onslaught of Typhoon Tino. The typhoon caused widespread flooding, destroyed homes, and uprooted trees, reviving painful memories of Super Typhoon Yolanda, which struck the country around the same time several years ago.

As the affected areas begin rebuilding, Northern Luzon, particularly Dagupan City, remains on alert for the next weather disturbance—Typhoon Uwan. With forecasts showing that the storm’s path could veer toward Northern Luzon, including Pangasinan, city officials and residents are preparing for possible impacts.

Dagupan City Mayor Belen Fernandez assured that the city is ready and has taken proactive measures to safeguard residents. She convened the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) early to activate the city’s disaster response system and place all emergency teams and equipment on standby for any required evacuation.

The city’s disaster preparedness has been reinforced with the acquisition of new rescue boats for island barangays, along with rescue trucks, ambulances, and fire trucks. These upgrades underscore Dagupan’s readiness to face emergencies and ensure the safety of its citizens.

In an update issued Wednesday, Mayor Fernandez reported that Typhoon Uwan’s latest track shows it moving toward the Calayan Group of Islands and Batanes before possibly heading to Taiwan. This projection suggests that Dagupan may experience only moderate rainfall and winds of up to 35 kph, provided the storm maintains its current direction.

Despite the improved outlook, Mayor Fernandez urged residents to remain cautious and alert. “Dagupan is ready, and every Dagupeno is safe when united,” she said, emphasizing calmness, vigilance, and cooperation as the city’s best defense.

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Meanwhile, Vice Mayor Bryan Kua, during a recent special session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod at CSI Stadia, called out the city’s former majority councilors for what he described as obstructionist behavior during the previous administration. Kua said progress had been delayed because of political interference and deliberate efforts to block the programs of Mayor Belen Fernandez from 2022 to 2025.

He cited that seven councilors, six of whom lost in the May 12 elections, repeatedly opposed development measures and even attempted to deprive the city of its 2023 annual budget. The group reportedly approved a minimal P600,000 allocation, comparable to the budget of a small municipality, which the Department of Budget and Management later declared invalid.

Kua also criticized the group for obstructing the construction of a P150 million Mother and Child Hospital funded by the Department of Health, claiming their opposition was politically motivated.

In contrast, the current Sangguniang Panlungsod has shown improved productivity, passing 32 ordinances and 105 resolutions in just 27 regular sessions and three special sessions within its first 100 days. This represents a 240 percent increase in legislative performance compared to the previous council, which passed only three ordinances and a few resolutions in six months in 2022.

Dagupan’s 2026 annual budget of P1.83 billion had already been approved in early October, weeks ahead of the provincial government’s P8 billion budget, which was only recently submitted for first reading.

Without obstruction, governance becomes more efficient. Much can be done when the pesky mosquitoes are gone—and for good.