Some Oroquieta residents resort to begging amid Misamis Occidental flooding

Some residents in Oroquieta City have had to turn to begging for money to buy food and water amid the heavy rains and flash floods that have hit Misamis Occidental and other parts of Visayas and Mindanao in recent days.

According to a report by Cyril Chaves on "24 Oras," houses, churches, trees, and cars in the provincial capital have been damaged by the flooding, while the roads are covered in mud.

“Mataas ang tubig sa loob ng bahay. Nasa first floor umabot ang tubig," said Jaime Pia, a resident.

“Ang panawagan ko sa gobyerno, ma-upgrade ang drainage system sa aming lungsod," another resident, Wilfred Lahaylahay, appealed.

Barangay Talic was largely affected, while the hanging bridge connecting Poblacion 2 and Barangay Taboc Norte has been washed out.

Residents have been working to clean up, while many also found themselves on the roadside begging for money to buy food and water. Many gas stations are closed, so there are also long queues at the ones that are open.

“Naghahanap kami ng makakain kaya sumama ako sa mga kapitbahay namin. Baka makatanggap ng ayuda,” said Erlina Pullido, also a resident.

Meanwhile, Mayor Lemuel Meyrick Acosta expressed his distress at the situation, and called on the national government for help. They also need generator sets for hospitals, and communication in the area is also weak.

"Hindi ko ma-imagine na magkakaganito. Daming bahay ang nawala. Limang trucks ang nag-evacuate. Pabalik-balik you pero hindi pa rin natapos sa pag-evacuate ng mga tao," said Acosta.

The Office of the Civil Defense Region 10 announced that they had recorded nine deaths and three missing individuals in the area. — Sherylin Untalan/BM, GMA Integrated News