The Office of the Civil Defense 11 (OCD 11) on Friday reported flooding and landslide incidents occurred since Thursday in some parts of the Davao Region due to the effects of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).
The flooding and landslide incidents occurred in some municipalities in Davao Occidental, Davao del Sur, and Davao Oriental evening of December 26, 2024.
According to OCD 11 as of 6 a.m. on Friday, a total of 877 families or 3,069 individuals were affected by the ITCZ wherein a total of 205 families or 903 individuals were internally displaced.
“Internally displaced persons are those currently taking shelter in an evacuation center. Affected population includes those inside the evacuation center and outside designated evacuation center such as seeking temporary shelter with relatives outside the affected area,” explained Karlo Alexie Puerto, OCD 11 information officer.
There are a total of four evacuation centers set up.
In terms of the status of roads and bridges, Lais Bridge along Davao-Sarangani Coastal Road is not passable as the bridge approach was damaged.
The OCD 11 also reported that the flooding had subsided as of 6 a.m. on Friday.
In City of Mati, the city government reported that several flooding incidents and a landslide occured on Thursday evening as heavy rains continued to batter Davao Oriental.
Reports from the Mati City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) confirm the following affected areas: Purok. Panaghiusa, Brgy. Tamisan, Centro, Brgy. Bobon, Prk. 1 and 2, Brgy. Mamali, Prk. Silad, and Brgy. Macambol.
A landslide was also reported along the Zigzag Road in Badas, a critical route for transportation within the city and nearby municipalities.
Residents in the affected areas were urged to exercise caution and follow the advisories issued by local authorities. Those living in flood-prone and landslide-prone areas were encouraged to evacuate if necessary.
Mayor Michelle Nakpil Rabat assured the public that all available resources are being deployed to address the emergencies and assist affected families.
Meanwhile, OCD 11 reported that provincial and city MDRRMCs conducted close monitoring of their respective areas of responsibility (AORs) as well as continued dissemination of Emergency Alert and Warning Messages (EAWMs) through SMS, messenger, Viber, social media, radio communications, and email.
It also said that it conducted pre-emptive and forced evacuation in the affected barangays particularly in Malita, Davao Occidental, and San Isidro, Davao Oriental.
OCD 11 said the Davao Occidental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) immediately provided relief assistance to the affected families inside evacuation centers.
OCD Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council 11 (RDRRMC) continuously monitors AOR for possible augmentation of response teams and/or relief assistance.
