Social welfare dept monitors flashfloods in Cagayan de Oro, Iligan

Social welfare dept monitors flashfloods in Cagayan de Oro, Iligan (Photo: About Cagayan de Oro – Acadeo/Facebook)

MANILA—The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is closely monitoring the situation of families displaced by flashfloods and landslides in Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental and Iligan, Lanao del Norte.

Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo said Tuesday that based on reports of the department’s field office in Northern Mindanao, residents living near the Cagayan de Oro River and Iponan River were advised to leave the area at about 8:20 p.m. Monday, particularly those from barangays (villages) Pagatpat, Tuburan, Tumpagon, Pigsag-an, Taglimao, Pagalungan, Lumbia, San Simon, Canitoan, Iponan and Bulua.

“Our regional officials are maintaining constant communication with officials of the local government units. We have reports that the LGU has opened evacuation centers at the Bulua Covered Court in Barangay Bulua (27 families consisting of 117 individuals); Nazareth Covered Court (22 families with three families from Barangay Camaman-an); and 4th Infantry Division Gymnasium in Patag (30 families or 120 individuals),” she said.

According to the city social welfare office, the rains displaced 31 families, destroyed two houses and damaged 29 others in Barangay Canitoan, and affected 20 families or 89 individuals in Barangay FS Catanico.

Misamis Oriental Governor Yevgeny Vincent Emano on Tuesday suspended classes at the pre-school, elementary and high school levels across the province.

In Gingoog City, 47 families (231 individuals) from Barangay 23 were evacuated to the Gingoog City Comprehensive National High School; 34 families (131 individuals) to the Talisay Elementary School; five families (31 individuals) to the Talisay National High School; 61 families (304 individuals) to the Santiago Barangay Hall; 47 families (215 individuals) from Barangay 25 and four families (20 individuals) from Barangay Lunao to the ASL Gym; and 37 families (101 individuals) from Barangay 24A to the GCJC Evacuation Center.

Taguiwalo noted that Magnum Radio and Bombo Radyo Cagayan de Oro have reported one fatality in Opol municipality, and one missing in Magsaysay town. The death is being confirmed.

Meanwhile, in Iligan City, Lanao del Norte, some 30 families were reportedly being housed temporarily at the Mahayahay Center; 25 families at the Del Carmen Evacuation Center; 35 families at the Ubaldo Evacuation Center; and 22 families at the San Roque Evacuation Center.

DSWD-Northern Mindanao has prepositioned relief aid for the provinces of Bukidnon, Camiguin, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, and Misamis Oriental.

The DSWD Central Office is also set to airlift 800 family food packs (FFPs), 5,000 blankets, and 5,000 ready-to-eat Chicken Arroz Caldo to its field office in Northern Mindanao, pending the availability of a Philippine Air Force C130 plane.

In its advisory at 11 a.m. Tuesday, the state weather bureau said the low-pressure area east-northeast of Zamboanga City has dissipated but the tail-end of a cold front will continue to bring cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms over Visayas, Northern Mindanao and the Caraga region. It warned these areas of possible flashfloods and landslides.