UNDC Activity Report Region I PangasinanProvince

Typhoon Parma (Pepeng)

Rapid Assessment of PangasinanProvince, 13 October 2009

Objective of Assessment:

  1. Map, to the extent possible, the displaced populations and affected families that stayed in their homes, including population movements and re-settlements;
  2. Assess the condition and define the immediate needs of the displaced population and affected families;
  3. Assess, to the extent possible, damages on health and educational facilities and impact on provision of basic services, including water, telephone and electric utilities; and,
  4. Assess existing logistics infrastructure (access by land, sea and air), including receipt, storage and distribution.

Overview of Team’s Activities and Findings:

  1. Rosales Municipal Hall
  2. Carmen East
  3. Tomana West
  4. Tomana EastDayCareCenter
  5. Tomana East Barangay Hall

A. Municipality of Rosales, Pangasinan, Region 1 (N15o53.541’ E120o37.973’)

The UNDAC team did rapid needs assessment of Municipality of Rosales. The team was briefed the by the Mayor Ricardo Revita, Municipal Planning and Development Officer John Alimurong, Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer Perlita Aquino, Public Health Nurse Jinny Ulpindo, Municipal water district manager John Ulpindo, and local residents Mr. Emmanuel Damasco, Mr. David Handoc, Jr., Ms Virginia Gonzalez, Barangay Captain of Tomana West Mr. Arnold Dominguez, and interaction with evacuees in Barangay Tomana East.

  • Impact Overview: The Class I municipality has 37 barangays with a total population of 57, 072 persons. 12 barangays were affected by the typhoon in which 4 were heavily affected due to the damaged dikes: Carmen West, Carmen East, Tomana West, and Tomana East. The number of affected individuals in these 4 barangays constitutes 20% of the total population in Rosales of which approximately 300 families are living in makeshift shelters because their houses were totally destroyed. During the height of the typhoon, 13 evacuation centers housed 2,401 families (9,605 individuals). Currently, the electricity supply was disrupted and is expected to be restored in 1 month’s time. Although the municipal office reported that all the evacuation centers had been closed, two evacuation centers were seen by the team which housed around 15 families. There were 7 typhoon-related deaths reported and two people missing.
  • Key Findings:
  • Health: Our findings with the municipal health officer reported that there were no significant health-related issue within the municipality. However, during the on-site visit, the team found makeshift evacuation centers that had not received medical attention of any kind. Noted medical concerns included acute respiratory illnesses and cases of skin infections. There was no reported increase in cases of diarrhea. TomanaWestHealthCenter was noted to be flooded and non-functional. Disease surveillance should be strengthened with some technical support from the Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit. Psychosocial support should also be provided for the members of the community in dealing with the aftermath of the flood.
  • WASH: The existing municipal water system covers around 60% of population (24 out of 37 Barangays). Currently 3 out of 4 deep boreholes are functioning, and the remaining borehole is expected to be working by Friday. One 8m3 water tanker is delivering potable water to affected neighbourhoods. The municipal water supply is chlorinated and normal water surveillance is on going. The majority of households in the far-flung barangays use water from hand pumps, bottled water is frequently purchased for drinking. In the severely affected areas, hygiene is of concern, and support should be given in terms of water containers, hygiene kits and hygiene promotion.
  • Shelter: An estimated 200 houses have been totally destroyed and 300 severely damaged, in Barangays Carmen and Tomana. A number of families are living out in the open in Carmen, and require immediate assistance (family kits). A more in-depth shelter needs assessment as part of a more intensive multi-sectoral assessment (to include child protection, nutrition, and livelihood) is required to establish the exact number of transitional shelters required, and the number of families requiring shelter kits to repair damaged houses. This will require close coordination with the municipal authorities. A small number of families remain in evacuation centres.
  • Food: The different barangays have been receiving relief items from the local government, national government, non-government organizations, religious and private institutions in the form of food. However, the donations need to be coordinated with the municipal as some organizations give to the barangays directly; this results in some barangays receiving more relief items and some barangays receiving none.
  • Education: 2 schools were seen to be damaged and flooded (CarmenElementary School and TomanaWestElementary School and Day Care).
  • Child protection: There is a possibility of an increase in child protection issues which needs to be further assessed.
  • Early recovery: The municipal is in need of assistance in re-establishing their crops as this is the main means of livelihood. Assistance for replanting in the form of provision of palay would be beneficial for the barangay. Infrastructure concerns such as damaged houses, health facilities, barangay halls, day care centers, and roads also need to be addressed immediately, namely the repair of the dikes and water system. Temporary shelter needs to be provided for the affected families.
  • Identified Needs in Rosales

Due to the extensive agricultural damage brought by Typhoon Pepeng, palay seedlings have been requested to help in the early recovery of the farmers.

The municipality is requesting assistance in the repair of infrastructure (houses, health facilities, barangay halls, day care centers, roads, dikes)

Restore investors’ confidence in the municipality that Rosales is safe for business.

Affected families need to be transferred to temporary shelters and given family shelter kits as aid in relocation efforts.

Disease surveillance needs to be strengthened in anticipation of possible water-borne illnesses

A more intensive multi-sectoral assessment (shelter, child protection, nutrition, and livelihood) needs to be done in order to properly assess the rehabilitation of the municipality

Baran gay Carmen East (N15o53.1699’ E120o36.1058’)

Barangay Tomana West (N15o53.4871’ E120o36.6554’)

Barangay Tomana East (N15o53.8220’ E120o37.5039’)

[End report]