STA. BARBARA, PANGASINAN — Thousands of families in this Pangasinan municipality are now within a wider government disaster-response framework after Sta. Barbara was placed under a state of calamity, following flooding and weather-related damage that affected 5,061 families across 15 barangays.
The declaration, approved through Sangguniang Bayan Resolution No. 2026-245, followed prolonged rains, flooding, strong winds and other hazards associated with Tropical Cyclones Maymay and Luis and the enhanced Southwest Monsoon, or Habagat, according to the Philippine Information Agency.
The move is significant because a state of calamity gives the local government a formal basis to mobilize disaster resources for immediate response, rehabilitation and recovery.
But for many residents, the declaration comes as floodwaters continue to affect communities and basic needs remain an immediate concern.
More than 5,000 families affected
Reports from GMA Regional TV said more than 5,000 families in 15 barangays were affected by flooding. Although the number of flooded barangays had fallen to 11 at the time of its report, the number of affected families remained substantial—equivalent to roughly 15 percent of Sta. Barbara’s population.
One of the hardest-hit areas was Barangay Sonquil, where GMA reported that 1,616 families had been affected.
Local officials said the calamity declaration would allow the municipality and barangays to access disaster funds and prepare relief assistance for affected residents.
The Sinocalan River was also being closely monitored. GMA reported that its water level had fallen to 6.10 meters above sea level, although it remained above its normal level at the time of the report. The local disaster office expected flooding to continue receding as the river level declined.
Why the calamity declaration matters
The declaration does more than formally recognize the disaster.
Under the country’s disaster-risk-reduction framework, local governments maintain a Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund, equivalent to at least five percent of estimated revenues from regular sources. Thirty percent of that allocation serves as a Quick Response Fund for relief and recovery following disasters.
This gives the Sta. Barbara government greater room to mobilize resources as officials assess damage and determine the most urgent needs of affected communities.
The response can cover immediate relief while also supporting longer-term recovery involving homes, livelihoods, agriculture and damaged public facilities.
Residents may also gain access to calamity assistance
The declaration can also open access to several government assistance mechanisms—but eligibility is not automatic for every resident.
Qualified Social Security System (SSS) members may apply for a calamity loan when the affected area is covered by the program.
Eligible Pag-IBIG Fund members may likewise qualify for a calamity loan when the agency activates the program for the affected area. Qualified government employees and pensioners may also become eligible for the GSIS emergency loan when coverage is activated.
The Philippine Information Agency stressed that availability, loan amounts and eligibility remain subject to the rules of the respective agencies.
That distinction is important: the declaration does not mean that every affected family will automatically receive cash or qualify for every government loan program.
Price freeze also comes into play
Another important consequence of a state of calamity involves consumer protection.
Under Republic Act No. 7581, or the Price Act, prices of basic necessities in an area are automatically frozen at their prevailing prices when a state of calamity is declared.
According to the PIA, the price freeze remains in effect while the condition that caused the calamity persists, but generally for no more than 60 days unless lifted earlier by the President. The Department of Trade and Industry is responsible for monitoring prices and enforcing applicable price-control provisions.
Residents who suspect violations may report them through the DTI’s designated channels.
Agriculture also takes a hit
The flooding is not only a threat to homes and daily necessities—it is also affecting livelihoods.
Remate reported that the Sta. Barbara Municipal Agriculture Office had estimated approximately ₱19.95 million in damage to crops, with rice and corn among those affected.
That could make the recovery phase particularly challenging for farming families whose income depends on crops that may have been damaged by prolonged rains and flooding.
The situation underscores why the calamity declaration is being treated as more than a short-term relief measure. For affected households, recovery may require assistance to restore agricultural production and household income after the floodwaters recede.
Sta. Barbara is not alone
Sta. Barbara is the third local government unit in Pangasinan to declare a state of calamity amid the recent weather disturbances.
The PIA reported that Dagupan City declared a state of calamity on August 10, followed by Mangaldan on August 11, before Sta. Barbara’s declaration.
The broader situation in Pangasinan has also been significant. The provincial government reported that 128,219 families, or about 447,425 individuals, across 270 barangays in 20 municipalities and three cities had been affected by flooding caused by Habagat, based on a Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office report dated August 11.
Nationally, Manila Standard reported that dozens of areas had been placed under states of calamity as the southwest monsoon affected millions of Filipinos. Its report also confirmed the 5,061-family impact in 15 Sta. Barbara barangays.
What happens next?
The declaration is only the beginning.
The immediate priority is relief: food, basic necessities and assistance for families still affected by flooding.
But once the waters recede, Sta. Barbara will face the more difficult task of recovery—repairing damaged homes and infrastructure, restoring livelihoods, assisting farmers and ensuring that government resources reach the communities that need them most.
For the 5,061 affected families, the real measure of the calamity declaration will ultimately be what happens after the headlines fade: how quickly assistance reaches them, how much of their livelihoods can be restored, and whether the town can recover before another round of severe weather creates a new crisis.
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