Palace on northern Mindanao floods: Gov’t doing everything for things to go back to normal

Malacañang has assured residents in northern Mindanao affected by the massive floods on Monday night that the government is working to bring their lives back to normal. 

“Government is doing everything to ensure that things go back to normal especially now that the weather is improving and roads are again passable,” presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said on Tuesday. 

Over 4,000 residents are affected in Cagayan de Oro City alone. But other areas in Mindanao also experienced heavy rains and flooding on Monday. 

"With a state of calamity declared in Cagayan de Oro City, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is now providing assistance to families affected by flooding in Region X.  The DSWD Field Office (FO) X has 3,200 bags of rice prepositioned in Misamis Occidental, Camiguin islands, Iligan and Bukidnon," Abella said. 

"DSWD also has 9,000 family food packs 2,000 dignity kits and a stand-by fund of 7M. The dignity kits and family food packs will be sent today to affected families," he added. 

Abella also said that DSWD is ready to augment relief supplies as needed. 

"Response is manageable at the local government unit and agency level and does not require the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) to step in, according to Usec Ricardo B Jalad, NDRRMC Executive Director and Civil Defense Administrator," he said.  — Trisha Macas/RSJ, GMA News