Dagupan hit by monsoon rain, floods

DAGUPAN CITY—Overnight rain dumped by the southwest monsoon on Friday submerged low-lying areas in this coastal city in Pangasinan province, creating rush hour traffic jams and drenching many students and workers who had to walk in ankle-deep floodwaters as they alighted from public utility vehicles.

Ronald de Guzman, city disaster risk reduction and management officer, said at least two classes were suspended at Calmay Elementary School on Friday morning when its two classrooms were flooded.

Flash floods were reported in Barangays Poblacion Oeste, Tapuac and Malued, and in other flood-prone areas of the city, De Guzman said in a telephone interview.

Floodwaters lingered due to a 0.7-meter high tide at 11:02 a.m.

This city, which has an average ground elevation of a meter, is vulnerable to flooding. A high tide of more than a meter can submerge at least seven villages along rivers, which account for about 40 percent of the city’s land area.

Avenix Arenas, spokesperson of the provincial disaster risk reduction and management office in Lingayen town, said her office was on alert after the Agno River Basin Flood Forecasting and Warning Center in Rosales town issued a flood advisory on Thursday. Gabriel Cardinoza, Inquirer Northern Luzon