Residents break dike wall in flooded Calasiao, Pangasinan

GMA Network

3 days ago

Residents shattered a portion of the wall of a dike in Barangay Talibaew in Calasiao, Pangasinan, believing that it could help mitigate the flood in their area.
According to the report of GMA Regional TV's Jasmin Gabriel-Galban on '24 Oras' on Friday, the local engineering office has already stopped the residents from doing further damage.
'Ang pagkakaintindi nila kapag nilagyan nila ng butas yung retaining wall sa dike ay makakatulong mabawasan yung tubig sa kanilang barangay. Pero widespread naman itong pagbaha. Halos yung lebel ng tubig nila sa barangay nila at sa ilog, parehas lang,' said Calasiao MDRRM Officer Freddie Villacorta.
(They thought that if they put a hole in the retaining wall of the dike, it would help reduce the water in their barangay. But this flooding is widespread. The water level in their barangay and in the river is almost the same.)
There are 23 other barangays in Calasiao that are under floodwaters, the report said. For instance, the floodwaters in Barangays Longos, Lasip, Lumban, and Mancup have already reached the roofs of the houses.
Tropical Storm Emong made its landfall over Agno town on Thursday evening. The aftermath of its havoc is evident in the town on Friday morning.
Houses and establishments were damaged. Trees and electric posts have fallen on the streets causing power disruption in the town.
Fallen post in Agno, Pangasinan due to Emong's battering
In Alaminos, the strong winds caused electric posts to fall down triggering a brownout in some areas.
According to the report, there are 26 towns and cities in Pangasinan that currently have no electric power. Agno and nearby towns are also experiencing disruption in telecommunications.
'Pahirapan kami sa pakikipag-coordinate doon (Agno). Actually, 'yung report nila 'yung situational report nila ay hindi pa kami nakaka-receive dahil walang communication [at] may power outage,' said Pangasinan Assistance PDRRM Officer Avenix Arenas.
(We are having a hard time coordinating there (Agno). Actually, we haven't received their report, their situational report yet because there is no communication [and] there is a power outage.)
Based on the initial assessment of the provincial government, the estimated cost of damages to infrastructure and agriculture in Pangasinan is around P600 million, the report said.