Dagupan City under state of calamity due to tropical cyclones

The Dagupan City government has declared a state of calamity due to the impact of the recent tropical cyclones, according to a report of GMA Regional TV’s Sendee Salvacio on Unang Balita Tuesday. 

"Ngayon po under na tayo ng state of calamity,” Dagupan City Vice Mayor Bryan Kua said.

(We are now under a state of calamity.)

“Kami po ay bababa na po sa mga barangay upang mag-abot ng tulong. Humihingi lang po kami ng kaunting pasensya dahil dahan-dahan po tayong iikot sa mga barangay at tutulong,” he added.

(We will now go down to the barangays to provide assistance. We just ask for a little patience, as we will slowly go around the barangays and help.)

The declaration of a state of calamity allows the local government to use quick response and calamity funds for relief, rehabilitation, and recovery efforts.

It also gives local governments authority to impose price controls on basic goods and provide access to no-interest loans for affected residents.

It was the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) that recommended placing Dagupan under a state of calamity, according to the report.

Around 30 barangays and 50% of their population were badly affected by the tropical cyclones.

The flood in the city rose up to six feet. Some barangays are still submerged, like Barangay Malued, where some evacuees were still taking shelter in classrooms.

"Sa Zone 7,8, at 9, malalim pa rin yung tubig sa kanila, lalo na sa Sitio Fisheries, overhead pa rin. Mabagal yung pagbaba ng tubig kaya medyo hindi pa halos nababawasan yung ating mga evacuees,” Barangay Malued chairperson Filipina delos Santos.

(In Zones 7, 8, and 9, the floodwater is still deep, especially in Sitio Fisheries, still overhead. The water is receding slowly, so we still have a lot of evacuees.)

Over 200 evacuees were reported in the barangay. Some of the evacuees have been staying in the evacuation center since last week. 

The evacuees are expected to return to their homes if the fair weather continues. —Joviland Rita/ VAL, GMA Integrated News