More than 6,000 families in Umingan, Pangasinan were affected by sudden flooding evening on July 17, 2025. But a barangay official insisted it wasn’t due to irrigation operations, saying the heavy rain caused the flash flood.

Officials from Barangay Maseil-Seil in Umingan, Pangasinan said the sudden flood that hit nearly 30 barangays last Thursday, July 17 was not caused by the local irrigation canal.

According to Barangay Chairman Arcadio Mejiano, the water from the Banila River Irrigation System does not overflow into residential areas. He explained that the flood was due to intense rain that caused water from the mountains to flow down rapidly.

“Sa katunayan ang tubig na papasok sa irrigation canal ay hindi mag-create ng baha. Ang dahilan ng pagbaha sa Umingan ay 'yung malakas na volume ng ulan na nanggaling sa bundok. Sa katunayan, ang mga barangay ng Carosalesan at Aloo nagbaha din doon, pero hindi galing sa irrigation canal,” Mejiano said.

He added that barangay officials are open to an investigation to determine who is truly responsible for managing the Banila River Irrigation System.

He said the Farmers Irrigators Association had control over the irrigation gate previously, but after the previous flood incident, the barangay asked for a duplicate key and began monitoring the system directly.

“Sa katunayan, mayroong asosasyon dito sa 5 barangay na humahawak niyan na dapat sila ang mag-manage niyan. Pero dahil sa kanilang pagkukulang—hindi ko naman sinasabi na hindi nila ginagawa ang trabaho nila—ay nag-initiate ako. Nag-hire ako ng gatekeeper na kung tataas ang tubig ay maisara ang gate,” he said.

GMA Regional TV reached out to the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Pangasinan for comment but is yet to receive a statement, as of this writing.

The Umingan local government has declared a state of calamity and held an emergency meeting on Saturday, July 19, 2025.

A total of 6,010 families were affected.

The local government will use the Quick Response Fund for the excavation and rehabilitation of water canals, purchase of rescue equipment and medicines, and continued distribution of aid to affected residents.

It also plans to build a command center for faster disaster response.

“Naireport na, nakapag-submit na sila ng SB resolution na declaring Umingan under state of calamity due to flashflood,” Avenix Arenas, Pangasinan Assistant DRRM Officer, said.

Residents, meanwhile, hope to receive help soon.

“Sana nga mayroon kahit anong maibigay na magamit namin,” Milagros Mendones, a resident, said.