A portion of a dike in Barangay Ventinilla, Sta. Barbara in Pangasinan collapsed after strong water currents from the Sinocalan River battered the structure during #PaoloPH, and was worsened by broken checkgates at a barrage dam.

Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer (MDRRMO) Raymundo Santos said the long-standing problem with the National Irrigation Administration’s (NIA) checkgates contributed to the collapse.

“Syempre umaapaw yung current na lumalabas doon sa tailgate nila kaya siguro doon nasira, na-disturb yung dike namin kaya nahulog,” Santos explained.

He added that several gates at the barrage cannot lifted fully, slowing the water flow and forcing the dam to overflow.

“Sana maaksiyunan ng NIA yan. Pati yung boundary namin sa Calasiao at Sta. Barbara, may tailgate din doon, hindi nila mai-angat. Kaya lahat ng tubig mabagal ang agos kaya nag-o-overflow sa amin,” he said.

Rowena Santiago, a resident near the damaged dike, said news of the collapse caused her family deep worry.

“Malalim ‘yun kaya nakakakaba naman yung tubig. Kahit na hindi pa umabot sa mismong dikeng bumigay, eh nakakatakot na rin,” Santiago said.

NIA declined to grant an interview but said an ocular inspection will be conducted tomorrow.

Since Typhoon Crising in July 2025, four flood-control projects have already been damaged in the town.

At least 19 barangays in Sta. Barbara were flooded when Typhoons Nando, Opong, and Paolo struck, according to the MDRRMO.

Residents and the LGU had earlier resorted to piling up sandbags as a temporary measure to prevent river water from spilling into residential areas.