La Union declared in state of calamity

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – The provincial board of La Union passed a resolution here on July 30 declaring the province in a state of calamity due to long dry spell that has caused serious damage to agricultural crops.

Gov. Manuel Ortega requested the provincial board on July 27 to pass the resolution so that they can use the five percent calamity fund of the province to implement contingency measures.

“It is a fact that the effects of the lack of rain in the past weeks have already taken their toll on the nation, including the decline of agricultural production and the rising incidence of red tide in Pangasinan,” the resolution stated.

The resolution, quoting Nathaniel Servando of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geo-physical and Astronomical Services Administration, said the situation has become alarming because of the prolonged dry spell.

In Pangasinan, an Intensity 4 earthquake was felt in some parts of Pangasinan afternoon on August 1, but did not cause any damage, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said.

Phivolcs director Dr. Renato Solidum said the 4.3 magnitude quake struck at 3:54 pm and was centered 51 km northwest of Lingayen town.

It was felt at Intensity 4 in Lingayen and Dagupan, Solidum said. – Jerry Padilla and Jennelyn Mondejar