Pangasinan towns, city declare state of calamity
Published Jul 23, 2025 01:39 pm
The municipal government of Calasiao in Pangasinan on Wednesday declared a state of calamity due to severe flooding caused by tropical cyclone ‘’Crising’’ over the weekend and the southwest monsoon which continues to bring water from upland areas.
FLOODED Calasiao, Pangasinan. (Liezle Basa-Inigo)
Mayor Patrick Caramat, in a statement on his official Facebook page, said the widespread flooding in the town prompted his recommendation, as chair of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC), to the Sangguniang Bayan (Municipal Council).
"Aprubado na po ito ng Sangguniang Bayan kaya’t mailalaan na po ang nakatabing pondo ng lokal na pamahalaan para sa pagtugon sa pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan (It has been approved by the Municipal Council hence the local government can now use the funds intended for response to the residents)," he said.
The declaration, contained in the municipal council’s Resolution No. 43, Series of 2025, also aims to ensure the safety of the people and their livelihood from the continuous rain.
Calasiao Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office spokesperson Christine Joy Soriano said that as of 10 a.m. Wednesday, 69 families or 252 individuals are in various evacuation centers, but the number is still rising as the rescue operations are ongoing.
She said 22 of the town’s 24 barangays are experiencing flooding, of which 18 had three to five feet deep flood waters.
Calasiao's river tributary, the Marusay River, is above critical level, bringing flood waters to the town, especially in low-lying areas.
Soriano said there are no reported casualties so far.
Meanwhile, the local government is providing free rides for its residents during the day, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pickup points are in Calasiao Plaza, which will pass by Barangays Mancup, Malabago, and Buenlag to Jollibee.
The local government units of Dagupan City and the towns of Santa Barbara, Malasiqui, Umingan, and Lingayen have also declared a state of calamity.
In Dagupan City, 441 families or 1,279 individuals evacuated due to severe flooding in 31 barangays, and the number is still counting as rescue operations are ongoing, according to the City Social Welfare and Development Office.
“This declaration will allow us to respond faster to the urgent needs of our constituents. It will help expedite relief operations, distribute immediate assistance to families in need, and support our city’s recovery,” Mayor Belen Fernandez said.
Fernandez said the City Health Office (CHO) is distributing doxycycline for residents wading in flood waters to prevent water-borne diseases.
The CHO said it has 500 boxes of doxycycline available for 25,000 individuals. These were augmented by the Department of Health-Ilocos region with 80 boxes during the day. The CHO, however, requested additional supplies due to the huge need to date.
The city requested he Department of Social Welfare and Development-Ilocos region field office for 46,000 family food packs to support relief operations.
In Santa Barbara, the municipal council approved Resolution No. 20, Series of 2025, which placed the locality under a state of calamity, to expedite relief, recovery, and rehabilitation efforts, allow the appropriate use of calamity funds, and facilitate the provision of emergency assistance to affected residents, as stated in the resolution.
Malasiqui did the same since its 15 barangays have been flooded and 80 percent of the crops, mostly rice, have been affected by the weather disturbance.
Lingayen, the provincial capital, declared a state of calamity.
Umingan declared a state of calamity due to the flash flood that affected 40 barangays during the onslaught of Crising.
Meanwhile, the PDRRMO and the Philippine National Police evacuated hundreds of residents stranded by chest-deep flood in Barangays Lasip, Mancup, and Malabago in Calasiao on Wednesday.
Residents said the rise of flood water in their barangays was unexpected.
A resident said the road elevation in 2012 and drainage improvement in 2023 had no effect.
Several roads in Dagupan City are impassable to light vehicles – the Mayombo-Caranglaan Road, A.B. Fernandez Ave. to Burgos St./Burgos Extension, Zamora Extension, Calmay-Carael Road, Perez Boulevard (University of Luzon), and portion of Old De Venecia Road (Unioil-PhilHealth).