VICE PRESIDENT Sara Duterte gave cash assistance and condoled with the families as she visited the wakes of the victims of a landslide that buried a house in Barangay Union, Monkayo, Davao de Oro, on Saturday, Jan. 20.
The seven members of the Gumatin family, all members of the Assembly of God Church, consisting of the couple and their five children died during the landslide on Jan. 18.
Duterte, accompanied by Monkayo Mayor Manuel Zamora, also handed out 12 sacks of rice and cash assistance to the surviving families and relatives.
Meanwhile, Davao de Oro declared a state of calamity following incessant rains and flooding, brought about the shear line weather system.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan, chaired by Governor Dorothy Gonzaga, passed a resolution declaring a state of calamity upon the recommendation of the Provincial Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Council.
The state of calamity allows the local government to implement response and recovery efforts by utilizing its Quick Response Fund (QRF) and promptly address the needs of affected families and individuals.
PDRRMO data showed, 51,140 families or 182,653 individuals have been affected by the flooding and landslides.
The initial damage in the agricultural sector (crops and fisheries) affected more than 5,000 hectares resulting in production losses of more than P130 million to more than 3,700 farmers and fishers.
Photo courtesy of Monkayo LGU
