LINGAYEN, Pangasinan (PIA) – Classes at all levels in both public and private schools, as well as government work in Pangasinan, including Dagupan City, are suspended on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, due to the imminent threat of Typhoon Pepito.
Governor Ramon Guico III issued Executive Order (EO) No. 0138 declaring the suspension in the province, while Acting City Mayor Dean Bryan Kua issued EO No. 52 for the suspension in Dagupan City, an independent component city in Pangasinan.
The suspension declared by the two local chief executives is part of the proactive measures taken by the province and Dagupan City to protect the safety and welfare of residents and minimize risks amidst the severe weather disturbance brought about by Typhoon Pepito.
According to the 11:00 p.m. bulletin of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Typhoon Pepito has placed the northern portion of Pangasinan (Sison, Tayug, Binalonan, San Manuel, Asingan, San Quintin, Santa Maria, Natividad, San Nicolas, Balungao, Pozorrubio, Laoac, San Jacinto, San Fabian, Manaoag, Urdaneta City, Rosales, Umingan, Mangaldan, Mapandan, Villasis, Santo Tomas, Dagupan City, Anda, Bolinao, Bani, Alaminos City, Lingayen, Binmaley, Sual, and Labrador) under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 4, while other areas remain under Signal No. 3.
PAGASA’s weather advisory states that the province is expected to experience intense to torrential rainfall, with total accumulations possibly exceeding 200 millimeters from Nov. 17 to 18.
Guico, who also chairs the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), advised local disaster risk management councils to initiate preemptive and forced evacuation procedures in high-risk areas, strengthen communication with local units, and ensure that critical services are prepared for rapid response.
Both executive orders stated that government offices and agencies directly involved in emergency response, disaster risk reduction and management, peace and order, health, and social services shall remain operational to ensure the continuity of essential services.
Private companies and businesses in Dagupan City are encouraged to exercise discretion regarding their operations and may consider the safety and welfare of their employees.
However, for the rest of the province, the decision to suspend work in private companies will be determined by the local chief executive or company management.
Guico and Kua urged all residents to remain vigilant, follow local advisories, take precautionary measures, and comply with preemptive evacuations as Typhoon Pepito continues to affect the province.
As of 5:00 p.m. on Nov. 17, the Pangasinan PDRRMC reported that a total of 178 families, consisting of 344 individuals from the towns of Anda, Bani, and Alaminos City, were preemptively evacuated.
Likewise, as of 3:00 pm, San Roque Dam in San Manuel town, which is now at 276.37 meters above sea level (masl), opened two gates at 2.5 meters and two meters, with an outflow of 749.65 cubic meters per second.
The government reiterated its call to the public to continue monitoring the official bulletins from PAGASA and the Pangasinan PDRRMO’s official Facebook page for updates regarding Typhoon Pepito as well as save emergency hotlines in their locality in case rescue response is needed. (AMB/EMSA/PIA Pangasinan)
