Flooding affects over 6,500 families in Pangasinan

Flooding has affected more than 6,500 families in Pangasinan as continuous rains brought by Tropical Depression #MaymayPH and the enhanced southwest monsoon raised river levels and inundated dozens of villages, disaster officials said on Thursday, August 6, 2026.

The Pangasinan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) said the Marusay River in Calasiao and the Cayanga River in San Fabian remained above normal levels. Meanwhile, the Sinucalan River in Sta. Barbara and the Bañaga River in Bugallon stayed below normal levels.

Calasiao DRRM spokesperson Kristine Joy Soriano said the Marusay River was already 6.4 feet above its normal level as of 11 a.m. and urged residents to prepare for possible worsening conditions.

“Nasa 6.4 feet above normal level po tayo as of 11 a.m. today. Paalala namin na makipag-ugnayan lagi sa mga barangay officials at huwag na sana nating hintayin na tumaas pa lalo yung tubig,” she said.

(As of 11 a.m. today, the water level is 6.4 feet above normal. We remind everyone to always stay in communication with barangay officials and we urge the public not to wait for the water level to rise further.)

At least 40 barangays across Pangasinan were flooded, according to authorities.

One of the hardest-hit areas was Barangay Lasip in Calasiao, where floodwaters rose above knee level. Despite the flooding, some residents chose to stay in their homes.

Gerald Mola, a resident, said they planned to build a makeshift bamboo walkway instead of evacuating.

“Problema ang tubig kasi nabababad ka. Gagawa kami ng lamo para makatawid. Hindi na kami mag-e-evacuate, diyan lang kami sa bahay namin,” he said.

(The problem is wading in floodwater. We will build a raft to get across. We will not evacuate, we'll just stay in our homes.)

A barangay assessment found that water leaking from a floodgate behind a dike allowed river water to flow into the community, contributing to the flooding.

Barangay Councilwoman Mercy Ferrer said poor drainage and raised road levels also worsened the situation.

“Dahil nga po sa pagtaas ng ating kalsada, dahilan din po ng pag-stock ng tubig sa ating mga kabahayan at isa rin 'yung kakulangan ng drainage,” she said.

(Due to the higher road level, water has collected in our homes, there is also the lack of proper drainage.)

Residents also moved their livestock to higher ground to protect them from floodwaters.

“Baha dito sa pinaglagyan namin kaya tinaas namin kasi magkakasakit 'yung baboy,” Florentina Ferrer, a resident, said.

(It is already flooded in our location so we moved our pigs to higher ground so they don't get sick.)

In Barangay Lasip, Dagupan City, residents also raised appliances and other belongings after previous floods reached the same height as the roads.

“Noong nakaraang bagyo, inabot 'yung bahay namin kasi kung anong level ng kalsada, ganoon din ang taas sa amin noong nakaraang bagyo,” Babylyn Villacorta, a resident, said.

(During the last typhoon, our house was flooded because whatever the water level is on the street, that's also how high it is inside our home during the last time.)

In Mangaldan, disaster officials continued monitoring barangays along the Angalacan River, including irrigation systems that could become submerged during prolonged rainfall.

Mangaldan DRRM Officer Rodolfo Corla said authorities are keeping a close watch on waterways to respond quickly if conditions worsen.

“Tinitingnan din namin 'yung mga irrigation dito na minsan kung ganitong pag-ulan ay underwater din para ma-monitor din namin,” he said.

(We are monitoring the irrigation systems since they can be submerged during heavy rains.) —Jasmin Gabriel-Galban, GMA Regional TV News