Flashfloods of Ondoy’s magnitude remote in Pangasinan, asserts Gov

Dagupan City (02 October) — The flash floods that submerged Metro Manila is far to happen in Pangasinan, according to Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr.

Gov. Espino noted that Pangasinan is blessed with the Agno River which serves as catchment basin for large volume of water. It has a catchment area of 5,952 square kilometers, he said during the Lingguhang Talakayan sa Kapitolyo last Monday at the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) Bldg. inside the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center (NRSCC) in Lingayen.

“Kung may tubig sa probinsiya, diyan bababa sa Agno. Ang advantage naman ng Binmaley, Labrador hanggang sa Dagupan ay nandiyan yung dagat kung saan diyan lalabas yung tubig,” he said.

He added that during the massive flooding caused by tropical storm “Ondoy” in Metro Manila, victims have nowhere to go but climb to their rooftops. Rescue workers even had a hard time conducting rescue operations due to narrow streets.

“I think if that happens sa atin, maraming matatakbuhan ang mga tao at madali tayong makaka-responde dahil may madadaanan tayo. Hindi kagaya sa Manila, walang madaanan yung mga rubber boats,” the governor said.

However, despite the advantage of the province, the governor is still keen on disaster preparedness.

“Pilit natin nililinis ang mga ilog kaya bibili tayo ng dredger para maalis yung mga cloggings diyan para pag nag-release ang mga dams, dadaloy siya sa river at lalabas sa dagat,” he said even as the provincial government already has started river clean-up drive dubbed “Ilog Ko: Aroen tan Bilayen Ko” and dismantling of illegal fish pens and fish cages.

Likewise, the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) also conducts disaster management trainings especially to local disaster coordinating councils to make them self-reliant in times of disaster.

Last July, the PDCC has successfully held disaster preparedness simulation and drill at the San Jose River in Lingayen to strengthen Barangay Disaster Coordinating Councils’ (BDCCs) capability to conduct rescue operations involving rooftop, floating and drifting, and capsized boat situations and others.

PDCC Chief Paterno M. Orduña explained that when calamity strikes, the local disaster coordinating councils are the first responders to provide immediate assistance to their constituents. (PIO/PIA Pangasinan)