RESIDENTS WARNED TO STAY ALERT: Crising batters Davao

Tropical Depression Crising claimed yet another life in Barangay Andap, New Bataan, the village with the highest death toll when super typhoon Pablo struck the area on
December 4.
Marlon Esperanza, municipal information officer, told MindaNews the body of Francisco Digaynon, Jr., 37,  married and father of four, was found in Purok 16, Barangay Cabinuangan, at around 9 a.m.
In Davao City, Residents of Sangilangan, Ma-a and Barangay Waan, in Calinan District here were evacuated Tuesday afternoon due to rising water in Davao River.
As of press time, the Davao City Risk Reduction and Management Office (DCRRMO) has yet to determine the number of families evacuated.
At around 12:30 p.m., the DCRRMO already raised alarm on residents living near riverbanks and advised them to be on standby for evacuation after the water level in Davao and Lasang rivers have reached alarming level.
Davao City has been experiencing continuous rainfall due to tropical depression “Crising” since Monday afternoon.
Nineteen areas including Davao City has been placed under storm signal no. 1.
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio ordered the suspension of classes from preschool to high school yesterday due to bad weather brought about by tropical depression Crising.
She also placed all rescue units run by the Emergency Response Center Central 911 and the barangays rescue groups on heightened alert due to the possible swelling of Davao River and other tributaries in the city and landslide on the highland areas.
“Per Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) Heavy Rainfall Yellow Advisory No. 1 issued at 8:53pm Monday, Davao City is expected to experience moderate to heavy rainfall due to the weather system, so classes will be suspended from preschool to high school on February 19, 2013,” Duterte-Carpio said.
She said the suspension of classes for college and post-graduate levels and work in private sector will be left to the discretion of school administrators and employers, respectively.
Genelito Atillo, spokesperson of the Department of Education in Davao Region affirmed the suspension of classes in preschool and highschool in all areas placed under the tropical storm signal no. 1 in Davao Region namely, Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley.
Commander Jose Luspo, chief of the Sta. Ana Wharf Detachment  of the Philippine Coast Guard ordered the suspension of sea travel from Davao City to Kaputian, Island Garden City of Samal and Talikud Island which are also placed under tropical storm signal no. 1.
He said that travelling towards these destinations takes one-hour and will surely expose people to rough seas.
Luspo said that the ferry service and the sea travel between Kilometer 11 Sasa, Davao City and Villa Rica, Island Garden City of Samal will continue in order not to totally isolate the access of residents to the main land.
He explained it only takes 15 minutes to travel in these sea lanes.
The operation center of the Office of Civil Defense XI also warned the local risk reduction management councils to take precautionary measures and to observe red alert.
The PAGASA reported as of 4:00 am Tuesday, the center of tropical depression Crising was estimated based on available data at 310 kilometers east of General Santos City with maximum sustained winds at 45 kilometers per hour near the center and it estimated to move west northwest at 22 kilometers per hour.
Classes suspended in 8 DavNor towns
In Davao del Norte, Governor Rodolfo del Rosario has declared the suspension of classes in eight municipalities in the province in view of Tropical Depression “Crising” which, according to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA), was moving closer to the Southern tip of Davao del Sur as of 11 A.M. Tuesday (Feb. 19).
“The Governor has declared the suspension of classes only in the eight municipalities under the Davao del Norte-Department of Education Schools Division,” Provincial Information Officer Romulo Tagalo said yesterday. The declaration does not include the three cities of Samal, Tagum and Panabo, he added.
Tagalo said del Rosario’s pronouncement came after the water levels in the different rivers in the province have started to swell and continue to do so because of the weather condition.
“The Governor was anticipating that the rains will continue because of the Tropical Depression and he just wants everyone to be safe,” he said.
Tagalo said the province has stepped up its advocacy to ensure the safety of the residents considering the changing weather patterns in Mindanao. The province has officially launched “Oplan ANDAM” Monday.
He said they have started their barangay visits on February 6 for their information dissemination activity and have visited barangays Dujali, Kapalong and New Corella. They were supposed to visit barangay Gupitan yesterday, he said, but the visit was postponed due to the weather condition.
During their visits, the PDRRMC conducts a lecture on climate change and a workshop for the community members. “It is the people themselves who will map out the areas usually flooded as well as the evacuation centers during the workshop,” he added.
Under Oplan ANDAM, the provincial government through the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) will raffle off up to 20 emergency grab kits for every barangay with an estimated cost of P800 each. The grab kits include batteries, flashlight, transistor radio with AM/FM, rice, noodles, whistle and a First Aid Kit.
DavNor LGU vigilant as river continues to rise
In Tagum City, the response team of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) in Davao del Norte continues to be vigilant even as the water levels in the different tributaries in the province continue to rise.
“The water levels in the different tributaries are gradually on the rise due to the continued rains,” PDRRMC Executive Officer Sonio Sanchez said. He said there is a noted swelling of the waters in Libuganon, Saub and other tributaries in the province as a result of Tropical Depression Crising which,  as of 11 A.M. Tuesday was moving closer to the Southern tip of Davao del Sur.
Sanchez said pre-emptive evacuations are being done in Talaingod where the river has started to swell. In Sto. Tomas town, he said, residents have been alerted for possible evacuation because of the swelling of the Tuganay River.
As of 9 A.M. yesterday, PDRRMC reported that Barangay Florida in Kapalong is already flooded and is no longer passable.
“We are now preparing our rubber boats and other equipment for any emergency,” he said. However, he added, they are trying to evacuate the residents early while the water is still at a manageable level as it would be very difficult to do that at night time.
He said the swelling of the rivers will tend to accumulate water and will flood downstream communities so pre-emptive evacuation is highly recommended. We have already warned the highly-distressed areas like Carmen, Braulio Dujali and Tagum City, he added.
PDRRMC has also installed the Disaster Monitoring Board at the Center so that reports from the different agencies involved in rescue and pre-emptive evacuation activities can be mapped out and collated.
He said that if the movement of TD Crising continues they expect a landfall in San Agustin Davao Oriental. However, if it reduces its speed then it can make a landfall in Davao City or when further reduced, in Zamboanga City. (MindaNews/Carolyn Arguillas, Jess Casalda/PNA and PIA XI)