BUTUAN CITY – Classes on all levels and work in government and private offices in several areas in the Caraga region, particularly in the provinces of Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Sur, were suspended on Monday, December 18, due to tropical depression “Kabayan.”
MAP of the Philippines with the Caraga region highlighted.
Some areas in this city are flooded due to continuous rains in the past 24 hours and classes were also suspended, particularly kinder and grade schools, in private and public schools.
The Disaster Response, Operation, Monitoring, and Information Center of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-13 is closely coordinating with local government units (LGUs) in the region as 17,362 families or 57,053 individuals have been affected by Kabayan.
Marko Davey Reyes, DSWD-13 information chief, said on Monday afternoon, December 18, that about 15, 269 families or 50,300 individuals are staying in 270 evacuation centers in the region and 2,062 families or 6,622 individuals have temporarily relocated to houses of relatives and friends.
DSWD-13 Regional Director Mari-Flor A. Dollaga-Libang has ordered all field social welfare officers to help LGUs distribute family food packs to affected families.
“Our social welfare personnel are already on the ground while our action center is ready round-the-clock for immediate action on any request from different affected LGUs,” said Reyes.
He also said their action center is closely coordinating with Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (DRRMCs).
The DSWD-13 has P58,870,064 worth of stockpile and standby funds ready for mobilization.
Meanwhile, four houses – one totally damaged and three partially – were damaged by Kabayan as of posting time.