Dagupan City declares state of calamity as 90k affected by floods

The local government of Dagupan City in Pangasinan, on Monday declared a state of calamity due to widespread flooding caused by torrential rains brought by the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat).

Based on the Dagupan's City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office's Situational Report No. 15, 23 barangays remain flooded.

A total of 22,047 families, or 90,015 individuals, from 31 barangays have been affected.

Meanwhile, 65 families, or 202 individuals, were preemptively evacuated to six evacuation centers.

"Following the recommendation of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the City Council passed a resolution declaring a State of Calamity to expedite the use of necessary funds and resources for relief, response, rehabilitation, and other immediate needs of residents," Dagupan Mayor Belen Fernandez said in Filipino on Facebook.

"This also includes the implementation of price controls on basic necessities and prime commodities, along with strict monitoring to prevent overpricing, profiteering, and hoarding," she added.

Fernandez said several major roads remain impassable to light vehicles, while classes at all levels have been suspended for seven consecutive days.

She said that the local government unit will continue to monitor the status of the barangays.

The CDDRMO, barangay personnel, rescue teams, and health workers are also on alert for any immediate response.

According to its 4 p.m. weather forecast, PAGASA said the Habagat will bring rains in Luzon and the western sections of Visayas in the next 24 hours.

The state weather bureau also continues to monitor Tropical Storm Peilou outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

As of 2 p.m., Peilou was located 2,980 km east of extreme Northern Luzon with maximum sustained winds of 75 k/h near the center, gustiness of up to 90 km/h, and moving eastward at 35 km/h. –NB, GMA News