Dagupan mayor mulls state of calamity declaration
A day after Typhoon Kristine swept through Dagupan City on October 24, Mayor Belen Fernandez said she may call for a special session to ask the Sangguniang Panlungsod to pass a resolution placing the city under a state of calamity in view of the damage and impact on residents.
As soon as there was a lull in the rains, Fernandez and members of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council started making rounds to validate reports of barangay chairmen on the damage wrought by the combined strong winds, storm surge and high tide on infrastructure, especially houses.
The validated reports will be used in support of the calamity declaration, which will pave the way for the release of disaster funds.
All island barangays were severely affected by the storm surge, including Pugaro and its Sitio Suit, Salapingao, Lomboy, Calmay and Carael, with residents forced to evacuate.
Some residents of Malued, Pantal, Poblacion Oeste, Bonuan Binloc, Carael, Calmay and Mamalingling were also evacuated.
At the height of the flood on Thursday, most roads in the downtown area remained passable, except for several stretches that were declared off limits to light vehicles.
These were the intersection of A.B. Fernandez and Burgos Street up to Cuison Hospital; Mayombo (from Victory Liner terminal to Mercury Drug on Perez Boulevard); Zamora Extension in Barangay Pogo Chico; YMCA area in Tapuac; Burgos Street; Rizal Street Extension (Riverside); and Jovellanos Street.
The stretch of Paras Road from the BJMP facility to Tondaligan Park was completely cut off due to flooding following a storm surge.
In Barangay Bonuan Binloc, the baywalk built by the Department of Public Works and Highways was damaged by strong waves.
The floods in Dagupan started to subside as soon as Typhoon Kristine exited towards the West Philippine Sea early Friday, but the Pantal River continued to rise as water from the Marusay River in adjacent Calasiao breached the 2-feet normal level. (Leonardo Micua)
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