2 Agusan del Sur towns under state of calamity

The municipalities of  La Paz and Esperanza in Agusan del Sur, have been placed under state of calamity, a military official said Friday.

According to Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla, reports from Maj. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal, 4th Infantry Division commander, said the provincial road from La Paz to Esperanza is not yet accessible to all types of vehicles, even if flood has slowly subsided.

A total of 62 barangays are affected by flooding while 10,385 families are still in evacuation centers, report said.

On the other hand, at least 2,127 families in Butuan City, Agusan del Norte are still staying in evacuation centers, particularly in City Central Elementary School and Agusan National High School.

Moreover, there are 292 families affected in the municipality of Las Nieves.

Military officials are coordinating with Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) and Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (MDRRMC) for rescue and relief operations as military vehicles are dispatched to the affected areas.

A total of 185 military personnel were deployed in Agusan del Sur while 177 military men were assigned in Agusan del Norte.

Meanwhile, a detour bridge in Brgy. Tinago, Malimono, Surigao del Sur was destroyed and its provincial road was still inaccessible to all types of vehicles.

In Cagayan de Oro, after heavy rains and floods enundated the city, clean up drive were organized as the situation has normalized. — BAP, GMA News