Climate change is a serious problem that is seemingly irreversible. Typhoons get stronger, water levels constantly rising, and floods getting worse. I only read about climate change on books when I was young and don't give much thought to it. Melting ice at the coldest parts of the world? That's too far from where I am. Few decades later, I realized we are all connected together and now I'm witnessing its effects.
Dagupan City is one of the progressive cities in my province Pangasinan. It also produces the best-tasting bangus (milk fish) in the world. However, the city faces a serious problem, flood which is either caused by rain or high tide. These Local Environmental Problems have been affecting businesses in the city and the daily lives of people. Students and employees working in the city would often compare themselves to a milk fish swimming their way to their schools and works due to the frequent flooding especially at the the main roads. I remember one time in college, my feet got slightly soaked in flood (caused by high tide) when I got off the jeepney early morning while on my way to school. I still haven't reached school yet I'm already having a bad day. Lol.
The city is situated along the Lingayen Gulf which is why fish farming is also a thriving business. They say Dagupan City's land is slowly sinking and there will come a time it will be lower than the water/sea level. And when that happens, the city will get erased from the map.
We don't get announcements about high tide when I was young because the roads don't get affected. But these past years, high tide has become a big concern.
A motorcycle driver putting his feet up to avoid getting soaked in flood water. Balancing skill 10/10!!!
I took this photo back in 2022 during my mother's wake. Every morning, I would leave early from the chapel to take a bath at home and eat some snack before heading back to the chapel. I need to rush back because in a few hours (or usually during lunch time), flood due to high tide has already crawled out from the drainages of the roads greatly affecting the low-lying areas of the city.
It was laughable at first because why would there be flood when the skies are clear? But then it became alarming when it hapenned the second time... third time... until it became a regular sight to everyone traversing the roads of this city.
That Jollibee on the right has closed down due to the constant flooding and road elevation that was taking a long time.
This is how it looks like during high tide, so just imagine the flood during a typhoon or monsoon rain which is even boosted sometimes by high tide. People were tired of this situation. Some even get discouraged to go to this city and some businesses even have to close down or relocate because their location is prone to flood.
Dagupan City having a low land, also becomes the catch basin of its neighboring towns. Flood from other towns would crawl to this city before exiting to the Lingayen Gulf.
I've seen they've done some dredging in the past years but the obvious solution to this problem that would bring relief to the commuters is elevating the roads. However, this is only like a temporary solution because flood catches up easily with the elevated roads in a few years. But it seems like the current mayor of the city got fed up with this recurring problem and the non-stop rants of people on social media. In 2023, they began the city's biggest road construction, elevating the road around a meter and even changing the drainage culverts with a bigger diameter.
Photo taken last September 2024. Half of the road was already finished.
As you can see on the photo above, the left lane was already elevated compared to the right lane. It was already cemented but not visible from this angle. The flood you see on the right lane was caused by the high tide.
Construction on this area began in 2023 and was only finished around last month. The construction on this area was a big hassle to everyone due to the on and off traffic rerouting. Aside from that, I hated passing by this road when going to the city because of dust which triggers my allergy so I have to take another route to avoid it.
People were shocked at this high elevation. Some were positive and hopeful but others say it will do no change. But it looks like the plan has somehow worked. These past high tides and strong rains, the elevated roads were dry.
An area of the city that easily gets flooded. This photo was taken during an on going high tide. They've already began constructing this part when I passed by two weeks ago.
The city has been elevating the roads by part which is why the construction is still on going today and the parts that are yet to be elevated still suffer with flood. While this road project gave relief to the motorists, the biggest downside is houses and establishments getting left behind from the new road level. Even the bridges of the city almost feel like a flat road now.
Just how long will this keep the city from flood? My mother who had worked as an Architect at the city's Department of Public Works and Highways would sometimes tell us that flood will continue rising in the future and it will be a never ending road elevation for the city. It's also just redirecting the flood on the low areas. And when the low area gets elevated, the flood would flow to the next lower parts of the city. On a side note, she also mentioned that the soil quality of the city isn't suitable for high-rise buildings.
Sadly, I think flood will be a perpetual issue in Dagupan City and residents must also be financially equipped to do house renovations so their homes wouldn't get left behind.
Also, one small act but with a big impact is disposing our trashes properly. Trashes clog drainages causing the flood to get trapped and slow down the flood from subsiding. Sometimes, we shouldn't only put the blame on the government. People should also look on their actions and habits because they might be unconsciously contributing to the problem.
Thanks for reading! 💚