Pangasinan town declares state of calamity 

Provincial Capitol of Pangasinan in Lingayen (Gabo Halili / Wikimedia Commons)

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — The western town of Bani in Pangasinan has declared a state of calamity, the first local government in the province to do so as monsoon rains continue to batter Pangasinan for the 15th straight day.

Mayor Gwen Palafox Yamamoto announced in her Facebook account that her town was placed under the state of calamity starting at 5 p.m. on Friday (July 17).

This was declared just few hours after the Municipal Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC) which Yamamoto chairs effected forced evacuation on some families who refused to leave their homes as floodwater in their areas was already fast rising.

Bani eventually declared a state of calamity as 80 percent of its agricultural lands and 90 percent of its fishponds were submerged by floodwater caused by half month of monsoon rains.

The monsoon rains, that not only affected Pangasinan but also other provinces in Region 1, the Cordillera region and Central Luzon. It started July 4 and continued even long after typhoons “Egay” and “Falcon” already left the country.

However, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) said it is not keen at this point on recommending that the whole province of Pangasinan be placed under the state of calamity, like Bani.

PDRRMO chief Reuben Oro noted that flooding is still confined in Bani, Sta. Barbara, Calasiao, Alaminos City, Labrador, Sual, Mangatarem, Bolinao and Bugallon while an earth dike in Binalonan town gave way due to the rampaging waters of the Tagamusing River.

Flood was also noted in several barangays of Dagupan, a city not under the political jurisdiction of Pangasinan, with its officials led by Mayor Belen Fernandez all set to conduct rescue operations for the affected residents after convening the City Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) on Friday.

Meanwhile, a report said that Bani town is so far the worst affected all over Pangasinan with 50 families already evacuated to the town hall as well as Catholic and Iglesia ni Cristo churches.

Relief operations to the evacuees as well as other flood victims in Bani are ongoing and so far the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) has already released 600 relief packs to them, the PDRRMO reported.

A report said all of Bani’s 27 barangays are affected by the flood with eight of them considered as the worst hit areas.

Forced evacuation had to be undertaken on some families in Bani who ignored persistent calls for them to leave their homes despite the rising floodwaters in their areas.

In Dagupan, flooding aggravated by high tide already affected barangays Mayombo, Bacayao Sur, Bacayao Norte, Malued, Pogo Chico, Pogo Gande, Poblacion Oeste, Pantal, Tapuac, Bonuan Boquig and some parts of Bonuan Gueset.