THE FLOODING and landslides caused by heavy rains affected 606,483 persons in the region, the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) Davao reported on Monday, Jan. 22.
In its Jan. 21 report, the agency said the number was equivalent to 134,879 families from 337 affected barangays in five provinces.
The heavy rains affected 102 barangays (73,206 families) from Davao del Norte; 98 barangays (25,932 families) from Davao de Oro; 96 (32,048 families) in Davao Oriental; 20 barangays (1,234 families) from Davao Occidental; 20 barangays (2,345 families) from Davao City; and one barangay (24 families) from Davao del Sur.
Of the total affected population, 3,495 families or 12,725 remain in 33 evacuation centers, while 3,815 families, or 13,717 persons are being assisted outside the shelters.
Based on the latest report, the disasters claimed 16 lives and injured five.
At present, the towns of Asuncion, B.E. Dujali, Carmen, Kapalong, New Corella, and Santo Tomas in Davao del Norte were declared under a state of calamity.
In terms of infrastructure, OCD Davao reported a total of 104 road sections and 19 bridges damaged. Meanwhile, 37 road sections were impassable as of Jan. 21—20 are from Davao de Oro, 16 from Davao Oriental, and one from Davao del Norte. Out of 14 impassable bridges, five are from Davao de Oro and nine from DavOr.
However, the OCD reported that 67 of the roads and five bridges are now passable.
OCD Davao regional director Ednar Dayanghirang said the estimated cost of damage to infrastructure in DDO and DavNor amounted to P27,170,000.
“Gamay ra ang infrastructure [affected] kay flooding man and landslide, unlike kung earthquake,” Dayanghirang said during the Kapehan sa Dabaw, Jan. 22.
The director said the region is currently in an earlier recovery stage which requires wider interventions. The office is working with local government units to conduct needs assessments for rehabilitation and recovery.
The OCD Davao reported a total of P49,576,273.71 worth of assistance has been provided to affected residents. These included drugs and medicine, food packs, family kits, hygiene kits, tents, sleeping kits, and vaccines against tetanus.
