Feeling for Mindanao

WE SYMPATHIZE with the victims of flooding and landslides in Mindanao, the country’s second largest island, where an ugly swath of death and destruction has been inflicted this month.

To date, the National Disaster Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said P738.6 million worth of damage to infrastructure had been on the board, with the Caraga region alone sustaining P473 million worth of damage to 32 infrastructure facilities.

The situation on the ground is unnerving, with the floods and landslides affecting 1.38 million individuals or 415,494 families in 818 barangays in Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, Soccsksargen, Caraga, and Bangsamoro Region.

Added to this disturbing sight are the piteous crowds of nearly 50,000 people in evacuation centers, while more than 300,000 are seeking temporary shelters elsewhere.

This is a tragedy that excites strong emotions, with at least 55 bodies already recovered, 32 injured while 77 people, by local officials own count, still missing, and nearly 1,500 houses damaged in the Northern Mindanao, Davao Region and Caraga, not to mention nearly 100 roads and 16 bridges impassable.

The rains were caused by the Northeast Monsoon, or what is called the Amihan, and the trough of a now-dissipated low pressure area,

The landslides occurred outside a gold mining site in Davao de Oro, burying homes as well as two buses and a jeep supposed to transport employees of the mining company.

Davao de Oro local authorities said the entire landslide area from crown to foot is 1.9 hectares and the thickness of the soil that got dumped on the village varies from 30 meters to 50 meters – making it difficult to conduct search, relief and rescue as well as clearing operations.

But while the Mindanao sky is dark and the rains are continuing, we are heartened by the split-second reaction by the government which has thus far provided P169.2 million in assistance to affected residents.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier ordered the release of P265 million from his Presidential Social Fundt o augment the relief assistance for the families affected.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development itself has responded with P142 million in humanitarian aid, including: food packs, sleeping kits, tents, household items.

At the same time, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said two US Marine Corps Hercules aircraft, now stationed at the ready at the Villamor Air Base in the metropolis, will be used to help in delivering supplies to the victims in Maco, Davao de Oro.

There are planned four deliveries daily – two per plane – to maintain a steady supply to the affected communities.

—“— We are heartened by the split-second reaction by the government which has thus far provided P169.2 million in assistance to affected residents