The Davao City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) on Friday said that they will conduct a Riverside Flood Simulation Exercise in the barangays near Lipadas River slated on September 21, 2024.
Lyndon Leovic Ancajas, acting CDRRMO Head of Administration and Training Division, said the simex will cover barangays Lubogan, Crossing Bayabas, Marapangi, Lizada, and Sirawan.
“The objective of this drill is to evaluate the preparedness level of our community and the capacity of the barangays. Kung naa sila’y sakyanan tan-awon nato unsaon nila paghakot sa mga tao. Ma-adjust pud namo ang among strategy tactics,” Ancajas said via Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR).
He said that there has been no flooding in these areas for quite some time and the residents may have forgotten about flooding preparedness.
“Isa sa mga na discuss namo sa office kay nganong diri na mga lugar? Taud-taud naman gud na nagmajor flooding incident ang Lipadas. Nakita namo kay basig medyo dugay na ug basin ang communities nakalimot na gamay kung unsa ang procedures, unsa ang mga dapat pagabuhaton. Sa Lipadas River na mga residente need nato sila i-remind sama sa simex. Nagsugod na last week ang first round sa meeting and next is meeting with the barangays and government offices nga responsable sa pagresponde ani nga activity,” Ancajas said.
Ancajas said through the simex they can identify areas for improvements in terms of rescue operation and evacuation.
He said they already conducted the simex in Matina Pangi, Matina Crossing, Matina Aplaya, and Talomo last year.
“Ang mga barangays ang nakabalo kung unsa na puroks ang i-activate para sa simex. Ang amo i-highlight is evacuation. Kung naay sapa na medyo lalum, kay on a daily basis taga tuhod lang man na ang Lipadas ang amo gitan-aw kung asa ang medyo lalum para maka simulate ta ug actual rescue operation. I-showcase pud namo ang capacity sa barangay responders,” Ancajas said.
Ancajas also said they conduct simulation exercises in the rivers of Davao, Bunawan, and Lasang every year.
“Sa Davao City man gud ang pinaka natural hazard nato is pagbaha. Daghan sa atong areas ang bahaunon. Ang pinaka worse nato na experience is katong sa Matina Pangi in 2011 na 25 ang nakabsan sa ilang kinabuhi. Kana among nakita na rason ngano ang among office headed by our head sir Fred Baloran naghimo ta ug ingon ani na activity na atong gi-involve ang atong communities,” he said.
On June 28, 2011, a flashflood occurred in Davao City due to the overflowing of the Pangi River caused by heavy rains which affected five barangays namely Ma-a, Matina Pangi, Matina Aglaya, Matina Crossing, and Talomo Proper wherein 25 persons were killed while 15 others remain missing.
