DAVAO CITY, Philippines—The provinces of Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, and in Caraga and Northern Mindanao regions are placed under state of calamity after torrential rains flooded several towns, causing destruction to properties and displacements of thousands.
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council of Davao del Norte passed on Tuesday, a resolution asking the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to declare the province under a state of calamity.
The towns of Kapalong, Carmen and Asuncion had earlier declared a state of calamity due to the destruction caused by the floods. Tagum City also made a declaration late Tuesday afternoon, following the inundation of its 23 barangays. This, while the towns of Braulio E. Dujali, New Corella, Sto. Tomas and Panabo City were also affected by the floods.
For peasant group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, the flooding brought upon by torrential rains was a result of the government’s inutility, in general, to address the issue of illegal logging.
“The issue of flooding in Davao del Norte especially at Carmen and other provinces is not new. This is expected because we don’t have enough trees in the mountains. The government has allowed this to happen,” Pedro Arnado, spokesperson of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas in Southern Mindanao Region.
“What DENR is doing is just a ‘lip service’,” he said, criticizing DENR’s claim that it has a sufficient budget to fund the agency’s reforestation program.
“They (DENR) tolerated big logging companies such as the Alcantara and Sons to operate and denude the forest in Talaingod and other areas of the province,” he said, noting that farmers affected by the flood will hardly recover from their losses because of insufficient funds.
According to Davao del Norte’s PDRRMC the flood caused some P299-million worth of damage and affected some 21,245 families or 40,335 individuals in 69 barangays of the province.
“The floods destroyed P285.6-million worth of infrastructures, P11.2-million crops, P1.2-million livestocks and P.85-million lost in fisheries,” it said in a text message to DavaoToday Tuesdayevening.
The PDDRMC has endorsed the utilization of the accumulated Quick Response Fund of the province amounting to P34.6 million “to provide aid, relief, and rehabilitation services to the affected communities.”
Thousands in Kapalong town in Davao del Norte were displaced because of the flash floods.
As of Wednesday afternoon, 3,940 families were affected, according to Gaspar Balinggao, action officer of Kapalong’s Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office.
Baliggao said that five barangays were severely affected by the floods, namely: Barangay Pag-asa with 374 individuals; Barangay Maniki with 1, 083, Barangay Katipunan with 106; Barangay Suaon with 224, and Barangay Tiburcia with 78 individuals, respectively.
He added that the Davao del Norte Governor Anthony Del Rosario with the Provincial Administrator Sammy Sanchez, PEO’s Engr. Raul Mabanglo; PIO’s Sofonias Gabonada and PSWDO – Rosalinda Rapista delivered an initial 500 relief packs for the affected families.
In Carmen town, a total of 3,140 families were also affected by the floods, causing damaged to both infrastructure and agriculture. The town’s 12 barangay, namely: Salvacion, Mabaus, Guadalupe, San Isidro, Anibangan, Asuncion, La Paz, Magsaysay, Tuganay, Sto. Nino, Ising and Mangaical were hit by flash floods.
This prompted the Sangguniang Bayan of Carmen to declare a state of calamity as early as Tuesdayafternoon for the release and immediate utilization of funds to address the needs of the people.
Also, some 853 families from 10 barangays in New Corella town have been submerged in flood. As of Wednesday, 267 families are now staying in the evacuation centers to seek shelter.
According to the town’s Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Council, the flood has damaged 427 hectares of ricefarm, 20 hectares of cavendish banana and four hectares of vegetables farms. The town is now under state of calamity.
The floods caused heavy damage to crops and aqua resources in Tagum City amounting to more than 74 million pesos and displaced a total of 2,659 families coming from Barangays Busaon, Bincungan, Liboganon, Pagsabangan, Cuambogan, Pandapan, Makilam, San Miguel and Canocotan.
Damage to infrastructure is pegged at P1,015,000 based on the damage assessment report by the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
Displaced families in the affected barangays were evacuated in designated schools in the city and were given food packs prepared by the City Social Welfare and Development Office.
In Davao Oriental, the towns of Cateel and Boston were also severely damaged by the floods. This prompted its Sangguniang Panlalawigan to declare the entire province under state of calamity.
Other areas in Northern Mindanao such as the Cagayan de Oro, Iligan and some parts of Bukidnon were severely flooded since last week brought upon by the torrential rains.
Meanwhile, the Davao City government will be extending an aid amounting to P250,000 sourced from the Quick Response Fund to Cagayan de Oro City.
Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang Jr. on Tuesday said the financial aid will be sourced from the P200 million quick response fund of the city. Prior to the financial assistance, the city had already distributed 5,000 food packs in the flooded areas of Cagayan de Oro.
Citing a report from region’s disaster management unit, the financial aid will cover 5 barangays of Cagayan comprising of 102 families and 481 people.
The councilor assured the financial assistance will be immediately given to the flood victims after it will be approved by City Council.
The councilor said they are also ready to provide help in other neighboring cities that is currently affected by flood. (davaotoday.com)
