Thousands Affected From Incessant Rain...

... in Comval and initial damages reported

By Fe F. Maestre

Compostela Valley Province (January 25, 2017, 1 PM)—  Municipalities especially in the District 1 area are now affected following the incessant rain inundating the province. As of January 25, 2017 (11 AM) report from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), a total of 2,276 families were already affected and still in different evacuation centers.

According to PDRRMO head Raul Villocino, the number of families affected from the flood are as follows: Nabunturan with 182 families, Compostela with 530 families, Monkayo with 698 families, New Bataan with 721 families, Montevista with 103 families, Mawab with 36 families, and Maragusan with 6 families affected by the flood.

The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) in coordination with the Municipal and Barangay DRRMOs have since conducted relief operations in various barangays. The Congressional offices of Cong. Maricar Zamora and Cong. Ruwel Peter Gonzaga also distributed food packs while hot meals were served to evacuees courtesy from the Philippine Red Cross-Comval Chapter.

Roads and bridges were also damaged. As of latest report from DPWH, Compostela, Comval  to Cateel, Davao Oriental road is now passable although in one lane as DPWH continue to conduct clearing operations in the area. The assessment team has still to come up with the cost of infrastructure damage.

Meanwhile, initial damage to agriculture already reached to PhP40,550,350.10 Million as per report from the Provincial Agriculturist Office (PAGRO) with 2,623 farmers affected. These include damage to rice, corn, high value commercial crops, and fishery. 

Villocino said they are monitoring the weather and is expecting rain to continue over the weekend.

Gov. Tyron Uy, who has been active in disseminating updates especially on social media, continues to call on the Comvalenyos to remain vigilant on any eventualities.  He has already suspended classes since Monday. The governor also expressed his thanks to the support extended by the national agencies such as the Philippine Army, PNP, BFP, Phil. Red Cross and other agencies. He also thanked the DSWD thru Reg. Dir. Mercedita Jabagat for the food packs to the evacuees and to DOH Asec. and Reg. Dir. Abdullah Dumama Jr. for the medicines that will be distributed in the province.

Comval has been under the Red Warning level as of January 24, 8PM advisory from the DOST-Pagasa which means heavy rainfall that will result to serious flooding and higher chance of landslides. The eastern section of Mindanao has been affected by the tail- end of a cold front causing rains in various parts of the region. (fe f maestre, ids comval)