Davao de Oro under state of calamity

DAVAO CITY: Davao de Oro was placed under a state of calamity by local officials on January 20 after heavy rains caused massive floods and landslides in the province.

The provincial board members unanimously approved the recommendation of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) led by governor Dorothy Gonzaga to allow immediate disaster rehabilitation and relief operations for the affected population.

The declaration of a state of calamity allows expedient response and recovery efforts through the utilization of the province’s Quick Response Fund (QRF) to promptly address the needs of affected families and individuals.

Officials said 182,653 individuals belonging to 51,140 families have been affected by the weather disturbance.

PDRRMC said the shear line’s initial damage to agriculture in the province was pegged at P130 million, mostly on crops and fisheries, affecting more than 5,000 hectares and more than 3,700 farmers and fisherfolk.

The PDRRMC said it expects the agriculture damage and the number of affected individuals to increase once it receives reports from the municipalities.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) 11 in its report as of January 21, said that 81 barangay (villages) in Davao de Oro were flooded and 45 landslides were also recorded.

On Thursday afternoon, January 18, a landslide in Mount Diwata, Monkayo in said province occurred, killing 11 residents. Among those who were buried under earth and rocks were seven members of the Gumatin family.

The victims were reportedly attending a prayer meeting when the incident occurred.