By the Philippine News Agency
LINGAYEN, Pangasinan -- The Office of the Civil Defense placed Pangasinan on red alert on Saturday as eight towns and one city in the province reported being flooded.
(PHOTO BY LIEZLE BASA/ MANILA BULLETIN)
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) in Pangasinan said it is closely monitoring the towns of Calasiao, Sta. Barbara, San Fabian, Mangatarem, Mabini, Aguilar, Labrador, Bugallon and the city of Dagupan.
Ron Castillo, research and planning office of PDRRMO-Pangasinan, in an interview with the Philippine News Agency (PNA), said Dagupan City has already declared a state of calamity, while Calasiao town might also follow.
He said Marusay River and Sinocalan River have overflowed causing flooding in the identified critical areas.
He added that 27 families in Dagupan City were evacuated from their homes; 84 families in Calasiao; 88 families in Sta. Barbara; 44 families in Malasiqui; and 13 in Mangatarem.
Castillo said that national roads in Aguilar to Bugallon, Urdaneta to Sta. Barbara, Sta. Barbara to Calasiao, Calasiao to Dagupan City were not passable to light vehicles, while the Camiling to Bayambang national road was not passable to all types of vehicles.
“There was leakage from a portion of the dike in Barangay Alibago. Due to strong water current from the swollen Sinocalan River, it created a three to five meters line hole in the dike, and we cannot yet do anything because the water current is still strong,” said Raymundo Santos, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer of Sta. Barbara.