Almost 9,000 displaced by floods in Northern Mindanao — DSWD

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Local Government Units (LGUs) coordinate in providing relief assistance to families devastated by severe flooding due to heavy rains over several provinces in Eastern and Central Visayas and Northern Mindanao on Monday.

Meanwhile, DSWD Secretary Judy Taguiwalo commended the quick response of LGUs and said, "Maagap po ang naging tugon ng ating mga LGUs at mahigpit din po ang naging pagsupoorta ng DSWD sa ginawang aksyon nila bilang first responder sa kalamidad."

She also assured the public that they are ready to provide additional resources whenever needed. "We have been monitoring the flooding incidents in Northern Mindanao through our Field Office (FO) in Region 10. We want to assure the public that we have enough prepositioned relief supplies, ready to be distributed to the affected families,"  Sec. Taguiwalo said.

Nanghatag na si Sec Taguiwalo sa mga family food packs ug dignity kits sa mga biktima sa baha sa Gingoog City. #DSWDMayMalasakit @sec_judy pic.twitter.com/hL00723vBU

— DSWD Region X (@dswdfo10) January 19, 2017

The DSWD said a total of 9,908 Family Food Packs (FFPs), 1,711 hygiene kits and mats were also extended to the families.

Based on the report of DSWD Region 10 field office released on Thursday, at least 9,303 families from 89 barangays of Northern Mindanao region were affected while 8,710 of which were displaced.

There were at least 113 evacuation centers that were established to accommodate the families.

As to the damage to property, there were 14 totally damaged houses and 34 partially damaged houses.

About 10 casualties were reported, with 5 confirmed dead, 3 injured and 2 missing.

For the Negros Island Region, the DSWD-Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center (DROMIC) reported that a total of 262 families were displaced and were accommodated in 9 evacuation centers. They were provided with P68,400 worth of relief assistance.

In Region VII, Central Visayas, there were at least 3,369 families affected, of which 227 from  37 barangays were displaced.

Six houses were totally damaged while 4 evacuation centers were opened to shelter the victims. The agency said it distributed P637,903 worth of relief assistance.

The DROMIC also reported that 4,167 families in Eastern Visayas  were affected with 537 displaced from 59 barangays. The affected families took shelter in 25 evacuation centers and were given relief assistance worth P147,516.

In Zamboanga del Norte, over 19 families were displaced and sheltered in two evacuation centers.

In Region X, most of the evacuees were from the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Gingoong in Misamis Oriental, and Iligan City in Lanao del Norte.

As of 10 a.m. Thursday, DSWD and various LGUs have extended P5,244,452.60 worth of assistance to affected families in the hard-hit areas of Northern Mindanao.

"DSWD-Field Office X has enough resources to meet the needs of flash-flood affected citizens. It has 3,200 bags of rice prepositioned in Misamis Occidental, Camiguin, Iligan, Bukidnon, as well as 9,000 family food packs and 2,000 dignity kids for affected families in Gingoog ang Logonglong. The Field Office also has standby funds of P7 million for the purchase of emergency relief supplies," said Taguiwalo.

Update: Some private companies also provided Family Food Packs to the families affected by flooding in Cagayan de Oro City. pic.twitter.com/anNGTnWnvA

— DSWD Region X (@dswdfo10) January 18, 2017

DSWD is also providing Dignity Kits to families affected by flood. pic.twitter.com/ajhrjebfWE

— DSWD Region X (@dswdfo10) January 18, 2017

Provision of hot meals for displaced families at Buluan Covered Court Evac Center in #CDO @dswdfo10 @sec_judy #floodPH #DSWDMayMalasakit pic.twitter.com/Jo9TPboDEs

— DSWD (@dswdserves) January 18, 2017

On Disaster Preparedness

Vigilance and coordination between residents, the local government unit, government agencies are they key to quick and efficient response in times of disaster.

"We appeal to the locals to be vigilant and to coordinate closely with the local government to ensure their safety. As in the case with any disaster, our goal is to have zero casualty," Sec. Taguiwalo advised.

Sec. Taguiwalo supported Mindanao State University Professor Arnold Alamon's idea that forecasting should be done in real time who said that information on water levels were not readily accessible to public.

"Doppler radar and satellite information provide advance data on the direction and amount of rainfall. These details should be quickly studied and decided upon by the city disaster officials immediately," Alamon said.

He admitted that despite best efforts in preparing for disaster, there is still no certain solution to our recurring problem of flooding and gridlock.

"It takes a natural disaster to expose a social disaster. We are a city bursting at the seams with too much vehicles and people that unbridled and anarchic economic activity brings. The many stalled vehicles in fetid flood waters are evidence of this difficult reality," he added.

Taguiwalo met with LGU officials of the hard-hit regions to discuss the initiatives done in response to the needs of affected families.

According to DSWD Region 10, a Quick Response Team is on standby to monitor and respond. — Marlly Rome C. Bondoc/BAP, GMA News