PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. yesterday ordered the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to determine the cause of flooding in areas affected by incessant rains in Misamis Occidental and Misamis Oriental provinces and Oroquieta City while fast-tracking rehabilitation of damaged infrastructure like roads, bridges, dikes, spillways and school buildings.
The President visited Gingoog City in Misamis Oriental and Ozamiz City in Misamis Occidental yesterday to see the situation and led the distribution of some P16 million worth of aid to communities affected by the incessant rains and flooding.
Marcos also directed DPWH to work with concerned agencies, including the local government units, to find solutions to prevent flooding in their areas.
He suggested asking for the assistance of Japan, which he said has vast experience and expertise in dealing with flooding, and for the DPWH and the local government units (LGUs) to find ways to put up alternate roads that the people could use to travel and deliver goods while repairs are being done.
The President said dredging of rivers may also be done along with the strengthening of flood control structures.
LGU officials, during a briefing, raised concerns about the damaged dikes and spillways, which they said could lead to worse situation if repairs are not done as soon as possible in light of the continued rains.
They also recommended putting up a structure that will divert water running through a river to reduce flooding in Clarin town.
The President told the local government officials to have their recommendations and proposed projects ready and submitted to his office in Malacañang for review and approval.
Some 18,452 families from 155 barangays were affected in Misamis Occidental with 3,122 families (9,928 persons) taking shelter in 41 evacuation centers.
Twenty deaths have been recorded, including eight in Oroquieta City.
Eight of the affected and flooded roads, including two in Oroquieta City, are now passable.
Some 5,594 hectares of agricultural lands were also affected with P154.38 million worth of damage to agriculture recorded in Northern Mindanao.
The President said that despite the devastation, there was minimal casualty which he attributed to pre-evacuation and evacuation activities by LGUs.
“The casualty is not too bad considering the surprise flash flood, it was not expected, we have not prepared. The evacuation, pre-evacuation, helped a lot. I think that that’s one of the reasons why the casualty rate is not high),” he said in mixed Filipino and English.
He reiterated the priority is to ensure the welfare of evacuees and communities affected, and to repair the damaged infrastructure.
The President led the distribution of some P16 million worth of aid to communities affected by the incessant rains and flooding in Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental and Oroquieta City, as he instructed concerned agencies to continue ensuring the welfare of the evacuees and other people in the affected provinces by providing assistance including relief goods, potable water, clothing, and temporary shelter.
Marcos initially attempted to conduct an ocular inspection of Oroquieta City but was prevented by bad weather. His flight was diverted to Gingoog City and they had to attempt to land at the Ozamiz airport thrice before they succeeded.
He told local officials, including Misamis Occidental Gov. Henry Oaminal, that he had long wanted to visit.
He was accompanied by Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan, and Special Assistant to the President, Anton Lagdameo.
Marcos also led the distribution of family food packs and non-food relief goods in Tugade, Tudela and in Gingoog City in Misamis Occidental and Misamis Oriental, respectively. The Department of Social Welfare and Development said some P7.5 million cash assistance was distributed to 1,500 households, each receiving P5,000.
The President also distributed financial aid to fisherfolk and farmers adversely affected by the situation and urged them to avail themselves of the government’s assistance such as Sure Aide Program and the Rice Farmer Financial Assistance (RAFA), both under the Department of Agriculture which he concurrently heads. Other assistance programs available are the Emergency Shelter Assistance of the DSWD and the ‘Bangka Ko, Gawa Ko’ Program of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.