5-foot-high flood hits Calasiao sitio due to Maymay, Habagat

Floodwaters that reached as high as five feet swamped homes in Sitio Bingco in Barangay Talibao, Calasiao, Pangasinan on Friday, triggered by the combined effects of Tropical Storm Maymay and the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat.

In a “24 Oras” report by GMA Regional TV’s Sendee Salvacio, residents of Sitio Bingco built makeshift rafts (balsa) as a precautionary measure.

“Five feet diyan, ma’am. Gagawa kami ng mga balsa, ma’am, ganiyan kagaya ng dalawang bahay… Preparation ‘yan, ma’am, bago dumating yung ganito,” said Willy Untalan, a resident.

(It reaches five feet over there, ma’am. We build rafts—just like those two households over there. It’s our way of preparing before something like this hits us.)

Local authorities continued to closely monitor the river systems as water levels upstream recede and flow downstream.

Barangay Talibao is only one of the three barangays in Calasiao hit by flooding—some areas due to stagnant or accumulated floodwaters, while others were inundated by rising river levels.

For instance, the Marusay River that reached 7.9 feet as of 12 p.m., well above normal and dangerously close to its 8-foot critical threshold.

“May posibilidad na madagdagan ‘yung ating mga barangays na makararanas ng pagbaha.” Calasiao Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) spokesperson Kristine Joy Soriano said.

(There is a high possibility that more barangays will experience flooding.)

Aside from the Marusay River, the following rivers have also recorded above-normal water levels:

• Cayanga (San Fabian)
• Sinocalan (Sta. Barbara)
• Balincaguing (Mabini)
• Pantal (Dagupan)

Authorities have strongly advised residents to refrain from wading through these rivers.

“Kung kinakailangan lumikas… ay gawin nila. May mga designated evacuation centers namin,” Pangasinan Assistance DRRM Officer Avenix Arenas said.

(If evacuation becomes necessary... they should do so immediately. We have designated evacuation centers available.)

According to Salvacio’s report, a total of 93,316 individuals across 52 barangays in Pangasinan have been affected by the widespread flooding. –Lyjah Tiffany Bonzo/NB, GMA News