CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PNA) – The two-week rains caused by a low-pressure area (LPA) in Northern Mindanao affected 59,000 individuals, left seven dead, and damaged more than P22-million worth of properties.
In the initial report by the Region 10 Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC-10) on Sunday, Jan. 15, 15,812 families experienced flooding.
In evacuation centers throughout the region, only 4,432 individuals or 1,227 families have remained as of Sunday out of the 31,353 individuals or 8,621 families who sought shelter within the two-week period.
The seven fatalities were from the provinces of Lanao del Norte with four; Misamis Oriental, two; and Misamis Occidental, one.
RDRRMC-10 also recorded five injured and two missing persons.
Initial estimate of damaged houses reached P2.1 million, damage to infrastructures P20.8 million, and damage to agriculture P63.7 million.
Department of Agriculture-10 will provide P5,000 in financial assistance to rice farmers in February, to be sourced from the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund.
"We will (also) be distributing the fertilizer discount vouchers for the whole region, which total around P192 million. And for the RFFA (Rice Farmers Financial Assistance), we have P96 million to be disbursed and the funds are already deposited with the DBP (Development Bank of the Philippines) account," DA-10 Executive Director Carlene Collado said during the visit of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Jan. 11.
Marcos directed the Department of Public Works and Highways to review flood control measures.
Heavily affected Misamis Occidental and Misamis Oriental experienced a repeat of nature’s wrath that submerged parts of the provinces on Christmas Eve.
Victims of the twin calamities were relieved to receive government aid.
"I am glad with the help extended to us, especially we almost had nothing (salvaged from the flood)," Erminia Bernaldes said in the vernacular during the distribution of P5,000 in cash assistance and food packs in Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental led by Marcos.
Rolly Egoc of Oroquieta City, Misamis Occidental, said his house in Barangay Talic was washed away on Dec. 26.
"We don’t have a house anymore, so we went to the barangay for refuge. I am now 55-years-old and it is only now that I experienced this flood," he said.
Given a chance to talk to the President, he said he would request for assistance to rebuild his house.