Dagupan placed under state of calamity due to typhoon ‘Lando’

Volunteers of the Philippine Red Cross rescue victims of Typhoon ‘Lando’ in northern Luzon (PRC photos via Dick Gordon’s Facebook page)

DAGUPAN City — The city of Dagupan, which is outside the political jurisdiction of Pangasinan, is now also under the state of calamity following a resolution approved by the city council on Tuesday.

Councilor Jose Netu Tamayo proposed the measure on account of the adverse effects brought strong winds and storm surge that downed several houses and electric poles, and heavy rains that were exacerbated by high tide.

Some 500 families, mostly along the coastal areas of Bonuan Gueset, Bonuan Boquig and Bonuan Binloc, have been evacuated for fear of storm surge.

Until Tuesday afternoon, floodwater is still rising in southern Dagupan City due to the continuous swelling of the Sinocalan River that is affected by continuing heavy rains at Mt. Ampucao in Tuba, Benguet, fountain head of Sinocalan and other allied rivers.

All the 31 barangays of Dagupan suffered the brunt of “Lando” but eight were considered as the worst affected, according to Mayor Belen Fernandez who personally led the rescue operations as well as post-disaster assessment.

Due to strong winds, some 20 concrete poles of the Dagupan Electric Corporation (Decorp) along the Jose R. de Venecia Expressway were downed, causing citywide power outages.

Decorp restored power in a few areas starting late Monday night.

Fernandez said the citywide power outages were one of the reasons for the suspension of classes in all levels both public and private on Monday and Tuesday.

Other reasons for suspension of classes were heavy rains, ongoing clearing operations, daily rise of tidal water and cascading water from upstream into Dagupan.