Pangasinan town’s agri, infra losses from floods hit P318-M

By Ahikam Pasion

CALASIAO, Pangasinan — The massive flooding in the province caused by the recent weather disturbances has resulted in a total of PHP317,912,000 worth of damages to infrastructure, agriculture, and public works in this town.

Freddie Villacorta, head of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) here, in an interview Tuesday, said the initial damages to public infrastructures has reached PHP200 million, and PHP90 million to flood control projects.

The Municipal Agriculture Office tallied livestock and poultry damages at PHP260,000; palay and other crops ‘ losses at PHP27 million and PHP652,000 respectively.

“We may allocate assistance from our calamity fund, but it will not suffice,” Villacorta said as he admitted that losses were much higher than the available funding considering that this is still a partial report.

Meanwhile, the town is still on red alert status as of Monday afternoon as five barangays remain flooded with Barangays Talibaew and Nalsian the most severely affected.

“Most of our evacuees are from Nalsian, where waters are almost stagnant, because of the almost non-functional drainage system. We will lower the alert status if the floodwaters in all the barangays are gone,” he added.

Villacorta said his office will continue its surveillance on affected barangays to ensure the people’s safety. (PNA)