BALINGOAN, Misamis Oriental – The province of Misamis Occidental recorded six casualties on Monday, Dec. 26, as flooding incidents continued to affect different parts of Northern Mindanao region, displacing more than 40,000 people.
The 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company (PMFC) and Oroquieta City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (DRRMO) conducted the latest retrieval operation in Purok 3, Barangay Mialen after the victims' house was buried in a landslide.
The fatalities were identified as Elenita Calamian, 43, and her father, Mario Sambiog, 70.
The landslide was caused by continuous rains since Dec. 24, which the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) refers to as "shear line" event.
Data from the Office of the Civil Defense-Region 10 (Northern Mindanao), and the Regional DRRM Council (RDRRMC-10) recorded four other deaths, two injured, and three missing in Misamis Occidental.
The provincial government, through the Provincial DRRMO (PDRRMO) has continued its response operations in flooded towns where public infrastructure were damaged and houses were submerged in flood water.
Gov. Henry Oaminal has activated supporting units in charge of relief operations for the families sheltered in evacuation centers, in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
"Today's rainfall (Dec. 26) has slowed but the water flowing (downstream to lowlands) from the hinterlands is still strong," he said in a media briefing.
Oaminal said the PDRRMO and allied units are on the field for immediate response.
The RDRRMC-10 recorded 7,540 individuals or 1,769 families evacuated in Misamis Occidental as of Monday.
Of the 11 LGUs affected, the town of Jimenez has the highest number of evacuees with 5,741 individuals or 1,327 families.
Meanwhile, in Misamis Oriental province, Gingoog City has the most number of evacuees among eight local government units (LGUs) affected by the flood with 34,156 individuals or 7,089 families.
In an interview, Gingoog City Mayor Erick Cañosa said their City DRRMO recorded damage worth more than P100 million.
"Initial estimated damages in fisheries are around P15 to P18 million; we had damaged crops amounting to P25 to P30 million," he said.
Cañosa also said infrastructure damage amounted to P50 to P75 million.
DSWD-10, in partnership with OCD-10, has initially distributed 6,600 food packs to affected families in Gingoog City.
The RDRRMC-10 also reported evacuees from LGUs in the provinces of Camiguin, Bukidnon, and Iligan City. (PNA)