OFFICIALS and employees of the Dagupan City government paused from their afternoon work on July 16 and gathered at the city plaza at 3:00 p.m., about the same time the 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck 35 years ago, to offer a prayer in remembrance and for Dagupan’s continuous protection from nature’s wrath.

Simultaneously, Universidad de Dagupan — in solidarity with the local government — sounded its siren, then students and faculty members assembled at the school’s quadrangle to also offer prayers.

At the city plaza, Mayor Belen Fernandez highlighted that in any calamity, presence of mind is of paramount importance.

Several employees shared their personal experiences during and after the quake, including City Legal Officer Aurora Valle, Personnel  Officer Lana Balolong, PESO chief Jocelyn Siapno, Councilo Michael Fernandez, City Secretary Ryan Ravanzo, PARMC officer Melykhen Bauzon, POSO chief Arvin Decano and Waste Management Division chief Bernard Cabison.

Valle recalled that the earthquake’s first casualties were the Magsaysay Bridge, as well as the old public market, which collapsed like a deck of cards. All roads in the downtown area were in ruins and became impassable. Dagupan’s water and electricity distribution systems were also out for weeks.

One of the major incidents during the tremor was a stampede at the Jade Theatre that led to the death of fewer than 10 people. There were also deaths by cardiac arrest reported from the University of Pangasinan, and along Perez Boulevard.

The Don Teofilo Sison  Bridge between Villasis and Rosales also collapsed, which meant the north-south traffic had to be rerouted to Dagupan despite its roads being in ruins.  The Quintos Bridge held on as a vital link from north to south. The then Pangasinan Provincial Hospital was destroyed and relocated to Bonuan Binloc.

The day after the quake, then-Defense Secretary Fidel Ramos arrived in Dagupan, and his party was met by then-Rep. Jose de Venecia Jr., Pangasinan Governor Rafael Colet, Mayor Liberato Reyna Sr., and Vice Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr. President Corazon Aquino came a day later and promised to restore Dagupan.

Ramos sent a construction group from the Philippine Navy led by Commodore Proseso Fernandez, to help open the lifelines and assist the people as they slowly returned to normal life.

Then Vice Mayor Al Fernandez was named Secretary General of a task force created by Malacanang to facilitate all aid coming to Dagupan, with Governor Colet as chairman. They used the old building of the then Ministry of Human Settlement in Poblacion Oeste as an operations center.

The Metro Dagupan Reconstruction Fund Foundation was organized with the late Dr. Salvador Duque as chairman and Dr. Vivencio Villafor as vice chairman.

The first structure rebuilt was the Magsaysay Bridge, followed by the Dagupan Public Market, using the P10 billion reconstruction fund sourced abroad by then Rep. Jose de Venecia. (Leonardo Micua) 

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