The Davao City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office underscored the possibility of people being swept by if they prioritize taking videos of flooding event instead of evacuating.
CDRRMO head Alfredo Baloran told reporters after the Monday Flag Ceremony that there is possibility that ground near flooded areas may loosen up or break due to impact, which is why people must stay away from flooded areas as soon as possible.
“In Calinan naa isa ka flood mitigation project diha nga na-collapse so kung naa sila diha sa ibabaw delikado gyud, reminder lang kana kung pwede stay away sa mga river banks kung naay pagkusog sa tubig..kami gani ginapahawa gani nato sa kilid sa sapa atong kaigsuunan (In Calinan we have a flood mitigation project which collapsed so if they are located atop dikes it is very dangerous. Just a reminder to all, to stay away once a strong surge of floodwater is observed.. even our teams advise for pre-emptive evacuation for people living in riverbanks),” Baloran said.
He added that those who will not follow may be charged under the Pre-emptive Evacuation Ordinance.
“They will be charged if they will not follow our instructions,” Baloran said.
He said that the CDRRMO was never remiss in providing warning to Dabawenyos on weather disturbances and they also sound the sirens to advise pre-emptive evacuation.
He said as observed in the previous flooding incidents though, some residents do not wait for the sirens anymore before conducting pre-emptive evacuation.
Baloran added that he also asked the coordination of other concerned agencies over the collapsed dike in Calinan so that its debris will not clog the river channels during flood occurences. CIO
