Dams Plan Spillage

In the wake of the panic from water released from the San Roque Dam during the recent flooding in Pangasinan, on Thursday, residents near the dam were warned of a planned spillage of water. There were no reports of panic as was the case when flood waters had eventually reached one story high in some areas. Provincial Governor Amado Espino sent text messages to local officials alerting them of the planned release. In areas near rivers and creeks where there was known or possible dike damage, residents were asked to take precautionary measures including planned evacuations.

Towns affected by the water spillage from Angat Dam were Norzagaray, Angat, San Rafael, Bustos, Baliwag, Pulilan, Plaridel and Hagonoy, which was still submerged in flood waters.

Towns affected by release from Pantabangan were the towns of Rizal, Bongabon, General Natividad, Palayan, Cabanatuan and Santa Rosa in Bulacan province.

For more information regarding the planned dam releases, visit ABC-CBN News and GMA News.

Municipality of Mangaldan Requests Assistance

Below is an open letter from the municipal mayor of Mangaldan reproduced from the Mangaldan website:

Republic of the Philippines
Provice of Pangasinan
MUNICIPALITY OF MANGALDAN
REGION I

OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL MAYOR

October 12, 2009

AN URGENT APPEAL FOR  HELP, SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE

TO ALL OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS:

Warmest greetings from the Municipality of  Mangaldan, Pangasinan, Philippines!

You probably have heard and seen via telecommunications the grim scenario brought about by the fury of supertyphoon “PEPENG” that devastated our nation beyond words.  One of the most seriously affected is the Municipality of Mangaldan by the  FLASH FLOOD due to typhoon “PEPENG”wherein as of this writing has reachedP934.65 M damages in properties, affecting 18,077 families or roughly 90,391 persons  and the loss of  ten (10)  lives.

It is my personal belief that calamities both bring out the best in us specially generosity and compassion.

On this regard, may I appeal for your HELP, SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE  to extend your blessings on to the victims in our community/municipality.    You may donate cash or in kind.  You may send your cash donations thru the Bank Accounts as follows:

FOR THE MUNICIPALITY OF MANGALDAN:

DBP (DAGUPAN CITY) – 0535-00407-5030
DBP (DAGUPAN CITY) – 0535-00407-5032
POSTAL BANK (DAGUPAN CITY) -0004-001715-32-1

For your inquiries, you may coordinate with Dr. Rosallie Hulipas at the Mayor’s Office at  (075) 523-93-43 / (075) 513-54-67/ CP#09169959124; Mrs. Julieta C. Petonio, MPDC/Administrator-Designate at (075) 604-21-02 (075) 523-9343 loc. 104 / CP#09178372462. Website:www.mangaldan.gov.ph ;
Email address: ompdcmangaldan@yahoo.com.

Thank you very much and the good Lord will surely return your love to your brethren million blessings.

Very truly yours,

(SGD)HERMINIO A. ROMERO
Municipal Mayor

Sagip Kapamilya Makes Plea for Aide

ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya in the Philippines has made appeals to the Philippine public and to donors abroad who wish to help in efforts to aid flood victims. As of Tuesday night, the ABS-CBN telethon has raised P27 million ($580,500 USD) in cash pledges and P39 million ($838,500 USD) worth of goods and services. Broadcaster and program head, Tina Monzon-Palma has said that cash donations will go to the “rehabilitation part” of the relief effort, which includes providing homes and livlihoods to victims.

If you are in Quezon City, there is a plea for volunteers and vehicles. Vehicles are needed to distribute donated goods to the affected areas. Volunteers are also need in four-hour shifts to pack goods at Scout Bayoran and Examiner Streets in Quezon City. The ABS-CBN compound on Mother Ignacia Street is also collecting ready to eat foods including canned foods.

There is also additional need for clothes, soap, toothpaste and toothbrushes.

ABS -CBN News: Sagip Kapamilya mission

Efforts from the Sagip Kapamilya have already reached parts of Mangaldan. Mangaldan was one of the worst affected towns, with up to 80% of the town having been flooded. Relief goods including rice, canned goods and noodles, hygiene kits, slippers and clothes were all distributed to needy families. Doctors and nurses were also on hand to provide medical services.

Despite the Sagip Kapamilya mission and other efforts to aid affected areas, there is still a continued need for support. Please help in anyway you can by donating to the Philippine Red Cross and the Sagip Kapamilya mission. There are still many more affected areas including Baguiao City, which until recently was cutoff by landslides.

I am also still collecting cash to be used to purchase goods in Mangaldan. If you like to contribute to this effort please contact me.

28 Cavans of Rice Distributed to Families in Mangaldan and Dagupan City

Thank you to those who have sent in donations. Twenty Eight (28) cavans of rice (1 cavan of rough rice = 50kg) were purchased and distributed to needy families in Mangalndan and Dagupan City, all of whom were affected by the massive flooding. Water is still waste high in some areas, but it is expected that the water will continue to recede this coming week. As expected there is still a large clean up ahead. Unfortunately the flooding has caused massive damage to rice fields, crops, and has caused all the fish ponds to overflow. Although the price of bangus in Dagupan City went down in the initial days after the flooding, prices are expected to go up as fish pond operators begin to restock. Each growing period for the fish ponds lasts roughly four months, and recovery of stock depends on future flooding, and the regrowth of algae that the fish feed upon.

If you would like to help, I am still taking up a collection. 100% of all contributions will go directly to families in Pangasinan. You are also encouraged to donate to the Philippine Red Cross.

Note: I am not affiliated with the Philippine Red Cross or any other charitable organization. I am just trying to help my family, friends and others affected by the flooding.

Possible Lawsuit Facing Dam Operators

Senator Francis Escudero and Pangasinan officials are contemplating filing a class action lawsuit against private dam operators who they blame for part of the flooding in the province of Pangasinan. Officials are angry that dam operators did not properly warn residents in neighboring towns of the release of water from the dams. Officials also said that the release of the water from the dams was not managed in a responsible manner. Before typhoons Parma and Ketsana (Ondoy) hit land, dam operators claimed that the dams could handle anything that these two typhoons could bring. Escudero had questioned why water from the dams was not released earlier so that flow from the dams would be released in a controlled manner. Instead, dam operators waited until the last minute before releasing water, causing a torrent of water to flow into the already flooded region. It was reported earlier in the week that operators at the San Roque Dam waited until the dam had reached one meter below capacity at 290 meters above sea level before releasing water.

As a result of the water released from the dams, many homes were inundated and water reached above one story in some areas.

Barangay Mabanogbog in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan under water. Residents and provincial officials are blaming San Roque dam for the disastrous flooding. John-John Sarmiento

Still, other reports have suggested that the towns of San Fabian, Mangaldan and Dagupan City in Pangasinan would have been flooded anyway due to runoff from the adjacent mountains of Benguet.

For more information on the possible lawsuit, visit GMANews.TV and the Philippine Star.

San Roque Dam Compounding Flooding

San Roque Dam, Philippines

It has been reported that the San Roque Dam is filled to one meter below it’s maximum height of 290 meters above sea level. Dam officials in the town of San Manuel have been releasing water continuously since Thursday to try and prevent an even larger disaster of a complete dam failure. The discharge rate started at 6000 cubic meters per second and has been slowly reduced to 1600 cubic meters per second. Although flood waters have receded somewhat the province of Pangasinan has been described as a ‘virtual ocean’ according to the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Compounding the issue further was a hoax that the dam was about to break. News of the possible crack in the dam caused residents nearby to panic and sent many running in fear of their lives. Local government officials have declared news of the possible break in the dam a hoax. More information on this haox can be found at the Philippine Star.

Mangaldan, San Fabian, Villasis and Rosales Worse Affected

According to reports from the Philippine Star, the towns of Mangaldan, San Fabian, Villasis and Rosales were the worst towns affected by the floods. Much of Pangainan province is still under water. There is some good news from the flooding. According to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, prices of bangus (fish) have dropped to P30 from P90 per kilogram in Dagupan City. The unfortunate aspect of this is that victims of the flood were selling the fish to other victims of the flood rather than taking the community approach.

Donations for Philippine Flood Survivors

If there is anyone who would like to donate money to survivors of the Philippine floods I’ve compiled a short list of charitable organizations who are funneling money and support to flood victims. Please designate that your money should be used directly for this disaster otherwise it will be pooled for general use purposes. These organizations are not listed in any particular order:

Philippine National Red Cross
Direct Relief International
Unicef USA

Cash donations to these organizations are encouraged since shipping in supplies in the immediate aftermath will be near impossible. Entire provinces are cutoff, roads are flooded and airports have been blacked out. Donations to your church, synagogue, mosque or other place of worship who are organizing relief efforts are also encouraged. If you would like to donate supplies or food, please contact one of these relief organizations for more information. All help is greatly appreciated.

Note: I am not affiliated with the Philippine Red Cross or any other charitable organization. I am just trying to help my family, friends and others affected by the flooding.