Two cities and four municipalities in Pangasinan had been declared under a state of calamity as of Sunday as a result of heavy rainfall brought by Typhoon Inday even as release of water from the three spill gates of Bustos dam in Bulacan was increased to 150 cubic meters per second (cms).

In the agricultural town of Samal, Bataan, the swollen Calaguiman river inundated villages in waist-deep floodwaters that have not been experienced there for years.

On Sunday morning, the Bulacan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) reported that for the last five days, water has been steadily released from Bustos dam.

On Wednesday, 80 cms was released; 125 cms on Thursday; 115 cms on Friday; 120 cms on Saturday; and 150 cms on Sunday.

Water elevation at Bustos dam as of Sunday morning was monitored at 17.52 meters, Ipo dam at 101.23 meters and Angat dam at 195.80 meters compared to its flood season high water level of 17.50 meters, 101.00 meters and 210 meters, respectively.

Get the latest news
delivered to your inbox
Sign up for The Manila Times newsletters
By signing up with an email address, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

On Saturday, water was released from the three gates of Ambuklao dam but was reduced to two gates by 11 a.m. on Sunday, while Binga dam, which opened five gates, reduced release of water from two gates.

SHELTER FROM THE STORM Police Chief Insp. Joshua Maximo rescues a nine-year-old girl evacuee using a stainless basin as a floating device in flooded Barangay Longos in Calasiao, Pangasinan province. (Inset) Evacuees occupy an indoor basketball court that serves as temporary shelter for them in Calasiao as monsoon rains enhanced by Typhoon “Josie” (international name: “Ampil”) fell heavily on almost the entire province the past few days. PHOTO BY JAIME G. AQUINO

As of noontime on Sunday, water level of the San Roque dam in Pangasinan was at 264.21 meters; spillage level is 280 meters.

No gates have been opened at the dam.

In Pangasinan, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Commission (PDRRMC) reported to Gov. Amado Espino 3rd that Dagupan and San Carlos cities were declared under a state of calamity on Saturday night and followed on Sunday by the towns of Bugallon, Santa Barbara, Calasiao and Mangatarem with Urdaneta City and the towns of Urbiztondo and Bayambang under close monitoring.

In Mangatarem, a 21-year-old student drowned as she attempted to cross a creek on Friday at the height of the typhoon’s onslaught.

The student’s body was recovered the next afternoon.

In Bolinao, five fishermen–Jeric Caasi, Ranilo Campana, Bunso Vergara, Manardo Caasi and Yvin Lopez, all residents of Barangay Concordia–were reported missing after they left their houses on Friday afternoon to catch fish but failed to return home.

Espino told newsmen that he has ordered mass evacuation of affected residents with the continuing rains brought by the entry of new Typhoon Josie, saying more than 2,000 flood-affected families in Dagupan City are temporarily staying at an evacuation center, 84 families in Calasiao, 88 in Santa Barbara, 44 in Malasiqui and 13 in Mangatarem.

He reported that national roads in Mangatarem to San Clemente, Aguilar to Bugallon, Urdaneta to Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara to Calasiao, Calasiao to Dagupan City and Mabini to Burgos, Dasol and Infanta are not passable to light vehicles, while the Camiling to Bayambang national road is not passable to all types of vehicles.

Rescuers of the Philippine Army and other volunteer groups helped policemen in rescue operations in Dagupan City, San Carlos City, Urbiztondo, Bugallon, Lingayen, Santa Barbara and Calasiao.

Under water

San Carlos City, with 52 barangay (villages) under water, is the most severely affected in Pangasinan followed by Dagupan City with 31 villages, Santa Barbara with 29 villages and Urbiztondo with 21.

More than 14,000 people in Santa Barbara and 12,000 in Calasiao are staying in evacuation centers.

The houses and livestock of those in low-lying areas in Santa Barbara and Calasiao were swept by rushing currents three to 12 feet deep.

Provincial Information officer Butch Velasco said the governor was still monitoring the situation before declaring the entire province of Pangasinan under a state of calamity.

“There are no reports yet on the extent of damages to various government infrastructure projects, agricultural crops and other materials needed for the declaration and we are still conducting rescue operations in the field,” Velasco added.

On Sunday, the governor visited the evacuation centers of Bugallon, Santa Barbara, Calasiao, Lingayen and Mangatarem and led the distribution of the relief goods and pledged to the mayors to release additional funds to purchase relief goods such as grocery items and rice for the evacuees.

Affected by floods are 13 villages in Bani town, 23 in Mangatarem, 11 in Alaminos City, 22 in Calasiao, 29 in Santa Barbara, 7 in Labrador, 8 in Mabini, 6 in Lingayen, 3 in Bugallon, 5 in Urdaneta City, 7 in Malasiqui, I in Agno, 3 in Natividad, 1 in Dasol, 19 in Bayambang, 5 in Bautista, 31 in Dagupan City, 52 in San Carlos City, 3 in Bolinao, 6 in Infanta, 22 in Urbiztondo, 4 in Manaoag, 3 in Rosales, 5 in Mapandan and 3 in Aguilar.

Meanwhile, acting Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando instructed all local government agencies particularly the Philippine National Police and Philippine Army, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Bureau of Fire and Protection and PDRRMC rescue teams to monitor closely the situation in flooded areas, particularly the low-lying coastal areas of the First District.

Liz Mungcal, head of Bulacan PDRRMO, said the latest monitoring showed that that Barangay Poblacion, Banga and Bangcal in Meycauayan City are still under three to six inches of floodwaters; 16 villages in Calumpit namely Bulusan, Iba O’Este, Calizon, Frances, Gugo, Gatbuca, Meysulao Proper, Meysulao Nabong, Sapang Bayan, San Jose, Santa Lucia, San Miguel Kalye Onse, San Miguel Malindig, Piocruzcosa Meyto and Panducot are submerged in one-half foot to five feet of water; Marilao villages Poblacion 1, Poblacion 2, Tabing Ilog, Nagbalon, Lias and Ibayo are under 10 inches to two feet of floodwaters; and eight villages in Pulilan namely Tibagan, Tenejero, Poblacion, Lumbac, Taal, Dampol 1st, Santo Cristo and Penabatan are under one foot to three feet of water.

Mungcal added that the municipalities of Paombong and Marilao have come up with resolutions declaring their towns under a state of calamity.

In Bataan, marshals, police officers and the Bureau of Fire Protection were guarding a bridge, driving away people for fear that the bridge may collapse as waters rose up to the floor of the bridge.

Also flooded in Samal were the villages of San Juan, Daan Bago East and West and Ibaba.

Reports showed that many parts of the MacArthur and Roman highways were no longer passable to all types of vehicles.

Many areas in 11 towns and one city were also submerged in floodwaters.

JAIME G. AQUINO, ERNIE B. ESCONDE AND FREDERICK SILVERIO WITH A REPORT FROM ARIC JOHN SY CUA