THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has distributed P6.49 million worth of food and non-food relief items to 732,576 persons affected by the trough of low pressure area (LPA) in three regions in Mindanao.
Data from the DSWD- Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center (DROMIC) showed that 183,993 families from 456 barangays in Regions XI (Davao), XII (Soccsksargen) and XIII (Caraga) were affected by the trough since last week, that has resulted in continued rain showers and thunderstorms in different parts of Mindanao.
A total of 85,700 persons (22,537 families) are staying in 316 evacuation centers while (204,109 persons) or 51,668 families are staying with their relatives or friends.
Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian led the distribution of family food packs to 628 families who were affected by heavy rains and flooding incidents in Manay town in Davao Oriental on Saturday.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said the number of persons killed due to heavy rains and flashfloods in Mindanao remained at 16 as of Sunday morning.
The NDRRMC also said 204,840 families (772,276 individuals) were affected, with 29,698 persons pre-emptively evacuated in five regions, in 11 provinces, 57 cities and municipalities, in 508 barangays in the Davao and Caraga regions.
The days of heavy rains and flooding also damaged 26 infrastructures amounting to more than P2.6 million. Damage to agricultural infrastructures, machineries, equipment. livestock, poultry, and fisheries have yet to be determined.
The bad weather also damaged 188 road sections and 15 bridge sections, and five seaports. No damage were reported on airports.
AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner lauded his men for conducting humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) operations in southeastern Mindanao.
He said the 10th Infantry Division HADR Units, including its10th ID infantry brigade, the Emergency Response Company, the Installation and Management Battalion, and the Service Support Battalion assisted in evacuation and clearing operations, and rescue of stranded individuals.
“I congratulate and thank all of you for doing all that and for showing the heart of the Filipino soldier in the face of these calamities,” Brawner in his talk to troops in Camp General Manuel T. Yan Sr. in Mawab, Davao de Oro last Saturday. — With Raymond Africa
