Typhoon Luis and the Burden it Had Given to the Province of Pangasinan

Typhoon Luis had caused massive destruction at various areas in Northern Luzon. Numerous infrastructures and agricultural crops are wiped out because of the rapid increase of water level, especially to low lying areas. The province of Pangasinan is under water for several days and there are still areas that stay flooded despite the fact that the rain had already stopped. People who are greatly affected decided to evacuate to Dagupan City People’s Astrodome for their security. There are also other evacuation centers where people can go which include Judge Jose De Venecia High School, East Central Integrated School, Mangin Elementary School and Bacayao Elementary School. Moreover, other schools are also willing to accommodate evacuees.

Classes were suspended because people cannot pass through various roads due to the increasing level of water. Even establishments decided to ask their employees to stay at home knowing the fact that people cannot go out of their house because of the flood. This was declared Pangasinan Governor Amado Espino last September 22. Small type vehicles aren’t capable to go against the water that people prefer to ride in a trike or in an improvised vehicle known in Northern Luzon called “Kuliglig”.

PDRRMC or the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council had stated that typhoon Luis had caused more than P290 million damages. You can expect it to rise up because there are still areas where the water has not yet subsided and remain stagnant. There are also people who died because of drowning. San Fabian and Urdaneta City had gone through serious damages according to PDRRMC Executive officer, Fernando de Guzman where over 40 families vacated their house. The national road in San Fabian was closed because of a landslide.

Almost 26 barangays in Dagupan City were flooded and more than 50, 000 families were affected by Typhoon Luis. No wonder why they had declared the city under state of calamity on September 19, Friday. One reason that contributed to the continuous flooding in Pangasinan is the water level in Sinucalan River that reached its critical state, draining Pantal River in Dagupan.

With such occurrence, bangus were sold in a cheaper price; thus, causing problems to fishpond owners. Aside from that, more or less P1.2 million worth of palay had been devastated by floodwater. Indeed, typhoon Luis had put the province of Pangasinan in turmoil, making it hard for Pangasinenses to recover.