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Non-stop rain since Friday isolates Mindanao towns, damages bridges
(Updated 4:50 p.m.) Major bridges in Davao Oriental were damaged as rain continued to pour over the weekend, isolating some areas in the province and impairing relief operations.
“Sa ngayon, [hindi pa rin] tumitigil ang ulan. Ang problema talaga ngayon has something to do with ‘yung kakulangan ng mga relief goods o ‘yung volunteers as far as disaster relief operations,” Davao Oriental Governor Corazon Malanyaon said in a live interview aired on GMA News TV’s “News To Go” on Monday morning.
“Ngayon kasi isolated ang lahat ng towns na affected ng mga baha at landslide. All bridges connecting those towns were damaged. So, ‘yan ang pinakamalaking problema namin… how to reach all of these town,” she noted.
It was the first calamity to hit the Philippines in 2014, after it was struck by several natural disasters, including the deadly super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), in 2013.
According to the latest government tally, at least 13 people have died as heavy rains have been pounding southern Mindanao since Friday, disaster council spokesperson Rey Balido told reporters on Monday. Seven of those killed were from Davao Oriental, while the remaining six were from Compostela Valley.
Among the bridges damaged are Lumao Bridge in Cateel, Manorigao Bridge and San Jose Bridge in Caraga, Quinonoan Bridge in Manay, and Chicote Bridge in Gov. Generoso town, according to a separate report from the Davao Oriental Provincial Police District.
It was the first calamity to hit the Philippines in 2014, after it was struck by several natural disasters, including the deadly super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), in 2013.
According to the latest government tally, at least 13 people have died as heavy rains have been pounding southern Mindanao since Friday, disaster council spokesperson Rey Balido told reporters on Monday. Seven of those killed were from Davao Oriental, while the remaining six were from Compostela Valley.
Among the bridges damaged are Lumao Bridge in Cateel, Manorigao Bridge and San Jose Bridge in Caraga, Quinonoan Bridge in Manay, and Chicote Bridge in Gov. Generoso town, according to a separate report from the Davao Oriental Provincial Police District.
Although the Philippine Navy aids in relief operations using its boats to distribute food packs, Malanyaon said that it is not enough because the boats’ capacity is limited.
The helicopters provided by the Philippine Army cannot also immediately be used as rainy weather continues, she added.
“Kahapon talagang malala ‘yung panahon dahil talagang sobrang ulan at saka underwater ang several areas. 'Yung iba hanggang bubong [ang tubig-baha]. Sa ngayon okay-okay naman,” Malanyaon said.
“’Yun na lang ang aming pag-asa na mag-improve ang weather anytime today so mapapadala namin 'yung mga relief goods [using military helicopters],” she said.
For his part, Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson noted that the Department of Public Works and Highway is “monitoring how we can restore those damaged bridges as soon as possible.”
“We are always prepared. We have temporary bridges that we can provide habang ginagawa ‘yung permanent bridges. Meron kaming depot sa Mindanao to pull some materials to make a temporary bridge,” Singson said in a separate interview in the same newscast.
Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley were among the hardest hit by Typhoon Pablo (Bopha) in 2012. Pablo was the deadliest typhoon that hit Mindanao that year. The provinces are still recovering from the damage caused by Pablo.
Rains are not uncommon in the country's eastern seaboard, which covers Eastern Mindanao, Southern Leyte, Eastern Samar and Southeast Luzon, from December to March.
Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley were among the hardest hit by Typhoon Pablo (Bopha) in 2012. Pablo was the deadliest typhoon that hit Mindanao that year. The provinces are still recovering from the damage caused by Pablo.
Rains are not uncommon in the country's eastern seaboard, which covers Eastern Mindanao, Southern Leyte, Eastern Samar and Southeast Luzon, from December to March.
Butuan under state of calamity
Meanwhile, Butuan City in Agusan del Norte was put under a state of calamity on Monday morning after flooding occurred.
“Butuan City is still on Alert level 3 with water level of 2.98 m as of 6:00 am… The Butuan CDRRMC (City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council) recommended for a Declaration of State of Calamity,” Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand Amante said in a letter to the Office of Civil Defense, a copy of which was obtained by GMA News Online.
Some 2,391 families from the city have been evacuated due to flooding, Amante noted.
Davao del Norte and Agusan del Sur
As with much of Davao Region, Davao del Norte and Agusan del Norte were inundated with floods, some reaching neck-deep or even higher.
“The good thing about this province is that the water is very much predictable. The early warnings are all in place and the people have positively responded to the call of local LGUs,” Romulo Tagalo, assistant provincial administrator in Daval Del Norte disaster council, was quoted in a separate television report.
More than 6,000 individuals from Davao del Norte have sought shelter in evacuation centers, the report added.
In San Francisco town in Agusan del Norte, Mayor Jenny De Asis declared a state of calamity Sunday night.
In a separate interview on “Balitanghali,” De Asis explained that their town acts as a catchbasin, which is why floodwaters continue to rise there even without rain.
“Tinitignan po natin ngayon, ang pagpapalabas ng karagdagang impormasyon na ilikas talaga ang tao natin sa pinaka-safe na ground [dahil may] evacuation center na naaabot ng tubig,” she said.
No one was reported dead or injured in the provinces mentioned.
Visayas
The Visayas region has also experienced continuous rains brought by the low pressure area. In some areas in Tacloban City and Ormoc City, residents have evacuated from their shelters to seek refuge on safer ground, reported newscast “Balitanghali.”
The rains also brought memories of super typhoon Yolanda’s onslaught, which killed more than 6,000 people in the region.
For its part, the weather bureau advised pre-emptive evacuation among Yolanda survivors living near coastal areas as moderate to heavy rains are estimated to last for three more days, especially in Mindanao and Eastern and Central Visayas. — Rouchelle R. Dinglasan/KG/KBK/BM, GMA News
Davao del Norte and Agusan del Sur
As with much of Davao Region, Davao del Norte and Agusan del Norte were inundated with floods, some reaching neck-deep or even higher.
“The good thing about this province is that the water is very much predictable. The early warnings are all in place and the people have positively responded to the call of local LGUs,” Romulo Tagalo, assistant provincial administrator in Daval Del Norte disaster council, was quoted in a separate television report.
More than 6,000 individuals from Davao del Norte have sought shelter in evacuation centers, the report added.
In San Francisco town in Agusan del Norte, Mayor Jenny De Asis declared a state of calamity Sunday night.
In a separate interview on “Balitanghali,” De Asis explained that their town acts as a catchbasin, which is why floodwaters continue to rise there even without rain.
“Tinitignan po natin ngayon, ang pagpapalabas ng karagdagang impormasyon na ilikas talaga ang tao natin sa pinaka-safe na ground [dahil may] evacuation center na naaabot ng tubig,” she said.
No one was reported dead or injured in the provinces mentioned.
Visayas
The Visayas region has also experienced continuous rains brought by the low pressure area. In some areas in Tacloban City and Ormoc City, residents have evacuated from their shelters to seek refuge on safer ground, reported newscast “Balitanghali.”
The rains also brought memories of super typhoon Yolanda’s onslaught, which killed more than 6,000 people in the region.
For its part, the weather bureau advised pre-emptive evacuation among Yolanda survivors living near coastal areas as moderate to heavy rains are estimated to last for three more days, especially in Mindanao and Eastern and Central Visayas. — Rouchelle R. Dinglasan/KG/KBK/BM, GMA News
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