Davao del Norte town placed under state of calamity due to flood

The town of Kapalong in Davao del Norte was placed under a state of calamity on Wednesday after continued rains caused a river to swell and flood nearby areas.   Office of Civil Defense Region XI director Liza Mazo said 2,900 families living in the town’s two barangays near the Libunganon River have already been evacuated. So far, no casualties have been recorded, she added.   “Dahan-dahang tumataas ‘yung tubig. May mga areas na knee-deep and waist-deep na ang tubig. Nag-preemptive evacuation na. Lahat sila nailipat na,” she said in an interview aired over “GMA News TV Live.”   She likewise said that the local council decided to declare a state of calamity in Kapalong to facilitate relief operations in the area.   “Quick response sa Kapalong noong tumataas pa lang ang tubig. Nag-convene agad ang council nila. Nailikas kaagad lahat,” she said.   Under Republic Act 10121 or the law on disaster management, prices of basic goods and service are automatically frozen and local governments are authorized to dip into funds to repair public infrastructure.   Mazo said banana plantations were destroyed, although the local government has yet to release figures on the damage caused by the floods.   Preemptive evacuations are also being undertaken in nearby Carmen town, the catch basin of floods in Davao del Norte, to prevent any casualty, she added. — ACC/ VS, GMA News