Pangasinan placed under state of calamity

MANILA, Philippines — The whole province of Pangasinan has been placed under the state of calamity on Monday following flooding and continuous downpour caused by the southwest monsoon enhanced by Tropical Storm Inday and Tropical Depression Josie.

As of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council’s 11 a.m. report, 381 out of 1,364 barangays in Pangasinan are severely flooded, forcing some 1,820 families to evacuate their homes.

In the resolution, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Pangasinan said data from the PDRRMC shows that a total of 10,528 families or 43,334 individuals are affected by the tropical cyclones.

According to PDRRMC spokesperson Avenix Arenas, Barangay Balayang experienced the highest flooding which reached 12 feet.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan said the province “has been gravely affected, destroying agricultural products and infrastructure and affecting numerous families and individuals.”

Prior the declaration, several towns and cities in Pangasinan have already declared a state of calamity, namely: Dagupan City, San Carlos City, Calasiao, Santa Barbara, Bugallon, Mangatarem, Bani, and Lingayen.

READ: 3 Ifugao towns, Dagupan under state of calamity

Dagupan City on Saturday was the first area of Pangasinan to declare a state of calamity.

As of 11 a.m., the water level of San Roque Dam is at 267.27 meters above sea level, just 12.73 meters short of its spilling point which is at 280 meters above sea level.

“Josie” left the Philippine area of responsibility on Monday morning, according to state weather bureau PAGASA’s 8 a.m. bulletin.

As of Monday evening, still no casualties have been confirmed.

PAGASA, however, said a low pressure area was spotted 1,495 km east of Central Luzon, outside of PAR, that may develop into a tropical depression in the next 24 to 48 hours. —Philstar intern Ali Ian Marcelino Biong