Dagupan under calamity state more than a week after ‘Ompong’

DAGUPAN CITY – The city council declared this Pangasinan city under a state of calamity on Thursday, more than a week after upland waters cascaded down to the province and flooded several towns and most parts of the city due to Typhoon “Ompong.”

The declaration was approved by most of the councilors during a special session, but not after a heated argument between two council members.

Councilor Red Erfe-Mejia deferred his vote, pending the submission of written damage reports from the City Disaster Reduction and Management Council.

But Councilor Maybelyn Fernandez wanted the immediate declaration of a state of calamity, saying it was needed for government agencies to provide assistance to the city.

Technically, Dagupan was already under a state of calamity, which the council declared after monsoon rains and storms in August flooded the city and rendered roads impassable to light vehicles.

The August declaration had not been lifted when the City Mayor’s Office submitted the request for a special session for the second declaration of a state of calamity due to the impact of Ompong.

Ronald de Guzman, CDRRMC head, said Ompong battered the fishery sector which lost P7.8 million.

Dagupan farmers suffered P600,000 in crop damages, he said.

De Guzman said 2,432 families, including residents of island villages, were evacuated during the typhoon.