The provincial government of South Cotabato has recommended the immediate relocation of residents who were affected by a series of flashfloods and landslides here and nearby Tupi town last week.
Milagros Lorca, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) head, said Monday the move was based on the assessment conducted by their personnel in affected areas.
She said Barangay Saravia here and Barangay Cebuano in Tupi have long been considered as calamity danger zones. These areas are highly prone to severe floods and landslides based on the hazard map released by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau in Region 12.
“We recommended to the local government units concerned to relocate the affected families, especially those situated near spillways,” she said.
The PDRRMO has assisted a total 175 families in separate emergency relief operations in coordination with the local governments of Tupi and Koronadal City.
Lorca said the two local government units have sought relief augmentation to address the needs of residents who were affected by the calamity. She said they already distributed family food packs, kitchen utensils, hygiene kits, and children’s kits.
In Koronadal City, she said they provided food and non-food assistance in Barangay Saravia, where at least 11 houses sustained partial damage.
Lorca said the affected residents were from Sitios Cabuling and Dungan Lahek, which were hit by severe floods and landslides on Sept. 15 and 17.
The barangay council of Saravia has declared the entire village under a state of calamity to facilitate the release of additional assistance funds.
In Tupi town, the official said they assisted 20 families from Sitio Mambusong and Purok Lote North in Barangay Cebuano who were temporarily displaced due to floods. A bridge was also destroyed in Barangay Tubeng.
“We already endorsed the victims to the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office for profiling and processing of their Emergency Shelter Assistance,” she said.
A maximum of P30,000 will be given to victims whose homes were totally damaged and P10,000 to those whose homes were partially damaged, she said.( Frances Kristine Alvero/PNA)
