Pangasinan: Five local government units in Pangasinan, consisting of four municipalities and one city, have declared a state of calamity as a result of recent weather disturbances, confirmed the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) on Friday.
According to Philippines News Agency, Vincent Chiu, who heads the operations and training unit of the PDRRMO, revealed in an interview with Radyo Pilipinas that the affected LGUs include the municipalities of Mangatarem, Bugallon, Sta. Barbara, and Mangaldan, along with Dagupan City. Pangasinan has been placed under a Blue Alert status due to the ongoing impact of the southwest monsoon, locally known as "habagat."
Chiu stated that clearing operations are actively being conducted in the impacted areas, with assistance from beneficiaries of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) program and the local government units. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has temporarily employed a total of 6,304 workers under its cash-for-work program to aid in the post-disaster cleanup and rehabilitation efforts in these communities. Specifically, 2,581 workers have been deployed to Western Pangasinan, 2,141 to Central Pangasinan, and 1,582 to Eastern Pangasinan. DOLE Ilocos Region Information Officer Jenny Mapile stated that these workers are tasked with cleaning and clearing operations, with each beneficiary earning a daily wage of PHP505 for a work period spanning 10 to 20 days.
Meanwhile, relief operations are ongoing in the LGUs that have declared a state of calamity. Although nine villages across three municipalities and one city remain flooded, evacuation centers have been vacated. Chiu noted that classes were suspended in 17 LGUs on Friday, predominantly in Western Pangasinan. Additionally, Malaca±ang has ordered the suspension of classes and governmental work in 16 provinces, including Pangasinan, starting from 1 p.m.
Chiu also reported that the partial cost of damage to infrastructure has reached PHP232 million, with agricultural damage estimated at over PHP600 million and damage to livestock at PHP2 million. He emphasized that the engineering and agriculture offices are still compiling data, and these figures are not yet final.
