30/07/2025
𝗙𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘 || Dagupan: Soaked, Shaken, but Still Standing
Dagupan, a city known for its lively seafood markets and busy streets, suddenly came to a stop when nature showed its force. For one intense week in July 2025, heavy floods took over roads, entered homes, and turned daily life upside down — something the city hadn't experienced in years.
It all started with nonstop rains brought by Severe Tropical Storm Crising, beginning on July 21. By July 22, Dagupan was nearly underwater. Water levels rose quickly, and in some barangays, it reached chest-deep. Many residents were shocked at how fast the flood came. Some rushed to higher ground, while others ended up stuck on rooftops, with no electricity or clean water.
For Dagupeños, that week felt like living in a nightmare.
Streets that were once full of bangus vendors and children walking to school became rivers of muddy water. In many areas, families built makeshift rafts just to move around or save their belongings. Evacuation centers filled up quickly — even local schools were packed with over 300 people. But even those places weren’t safe for long, as floodwaters rose inside, forcing families to move again to higher floors or open courts.
It became clear that people were not prepared enough. Or maybe, they didn’t expect the flood to be this bad.
Some residents shared that early warnings were given, but the rain, combined with high tide, came too fast. The drainage systems couldn’t handle the water. Roads became impassable. Rubber boats and life vests weren’t enough. In some places, help couldn’t arrive right away.
Still, in the middle of the chaos, help did come — and it came fast.
On July 23, the city was placed under a state of calamity. This allowed officials to act quicker and use emergency funds. What really made a difference, though, was the “direktang tulong” or direct help given to people, especially fishermen who lost their boats and income. DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Mayor Belen Fernandez, Kapitan Noel Balolong, and the city council worked together to provide immediate relief.
Fishing areas like Sitio Calao and Lomboy were given special attention, knowing how much they lost to the flood. The city also gave out hygiene kits, food packs, and psychosocial support for children. Volunteers from Dagupan and nearby towns helped distribute clothes, cooked warm food like arroz caldo, and offered other services. Social media became a key tool in sharing updates and asking for help.
Even though the flood was scary, Dagupeños stayed strong.
By July 27, the floodwaters slowly started to go down. Signs of hope began to appear. Neighbors helped repair each other’s homes. Vendors cleaned up and reopened stalls. Officials started checking how to avoid such a disaster in the future.
But many still asked: Could this have been prevented? Were the warnings enough? What more can be done to protect the city from future floods?
This flood was a wake-up call.
But it also showed something powerful: that even when a city is submerged, it doesn’t have to sink. Dagupan stood its ground — soaked, shaken, but still standing — because its people stayed united.
Even if the city was flooded, its spirit never gave up.
