The passage of Tropical Storm Caloy last July 18, 2010 brought heavy rainfall in Brgy. Paltic, Dingalan, Aurora and resulted to flashflooding. With this situation , OIC, Regional Director Orlando Pineda, Sr. immediately dispatched personnel from the Geosciences Division to conduct monitoring and assessed the extent of damage brought about by said typhoon.

In a report submitted by Mr. Noel B. Lacadin, OIC, Geosciences Division , it was observed that the flashflooding with minor debris flows that affected Dingalan particularly Brgy Paltic were caused by :

1. Intense heavy rainfall over an extended time of eight (8) hours on July 18, 2010. This is worsened by the reduced channel capacities of the rivers and creeks and reduced clearances of culvert and bridges in the area by siltation.

2. The silted situation encouraged the rivers and creeks to overflow their shallow banks and avulse and shift channels following topographic lows and depressions toward the Brgy. Paltic center. All impacted areas were the same areas affected in 2004 although at a lesser intensity during the July 18, 2010 event. The next flooding and debris flow event will follow the same path as residents had cleared the debris covered road towards the barangay center and their homes. In effect a channel had been prepared for the next flows to utilize in the future.

In view of the findings and conclusions the following are recommended:

1. Brgy. Paltic which was severely affected the 2004 and 18 July 2010 flooding and landslide events its declaration as a permanent danger zone is reiterated specially during the typhoon season to avert similar catastrophic events the soonest possible time. The main reason why residents returned to their homes is livelihood since most residents are fishermen. All residents should be instructed to vacate their homes and utilize the relocation sites allocated to them. The national government and LGU should seek a formula to address the long term livelihood problem of the affected residents.

2. The Davildavilan River in Bgy. Davidavilan should be declogged to increase its channel capacity to enable it to transmit its flows to the Dingalan River and eventually to the Dingalan Bay. The same should be made in all sediment chocked creeks and river systems in the municipality except those in Brgy. Paltic which is to should be declared as a permanent danger zone. This could be done by either by desilting, dredging or controlled quarrying with the permission and cooperation of the DPWH, the Provincial Engineer’s Office and the ENRO – office of the Provincial Governor. The expertise of the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers could be tapped in the formulation of the desilting/dredging/quarrying plan. Assistance from the DENR- Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Region III could be inquired in the securing of the proposed sediment removal project’s Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC).

3. A sustainable municipal or better barangay based landslide and flooding early warning system should be formulated, activated and operationalized the soonest. The present warning system should be improved. The threshold rainfall should be determined since succeeding landslides and debris flows are triggered by sustained intensified rainfall.

4. All barangay disaster response teams should be trained in open and swift water rescue since the hazards faced by the municipality are flashfloods. The municipality should inventory all public and privately owned heavy equipment so that these could be requested in times of landslide/debris flow events. Excavating tools should be stockpiled by both barangay and municipal LGU.

5. All residents must prepare a survival kit containing vital personal records and documents in a water proof enveloped placed in a sealable plastic or metal canister/container along with a pocket knife, candles, essential medicines, biscuits canned goods, portable radio with batteries, bottled water and the like.