Manila Bulletin
Philippines
National
Gov't distributes over P2M worth of aid to flood victims in Mindanao
Philippines
National
Gov't distributes over P2M worth of aid to flood victims in Mindanao
Gov't distributes over P2M worth of aid to flood victims in Mindanao
Published Jun 30, 2023 06:50 am
The national government has provided more than P2 million worth of relief assistance to thousands of people who were affected by intense rains and flooding in Mindanao due to the effects of intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ).
*Personnel of the Office of Civil Defense in Region 10 (OCD-10) provide non-food items to the local government of Valencia City in Bukidnon as shown in this photo released on June 23, 2023. These relief aid would be given to the flood-affected families due to heavy rainfall caused by intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ). (Photo courtesy of OCD-10)
* Diego Agustin Mariano, deputy spokesperson of Office of Civil Defense (OCD), said the government is prepared to augment the resources of local government units to attend to the needs of the affected residents, most of them are in Northern Mindanao (Region 10), Soccsksargen (Region 12), and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). “Mayroon na pong worth P2 million mahigit na assistance na na-provide na po para sa mga kababayan na naapektuhan ng pagbaha (We have provided over P2 million worth of assistance to residents affected by the flooding),” Mariano said in a public briefing. Among the relief aid were hygiene kits, shelter repair kits, and family kits. “Karamihan ng mga naapektuhan ng pag-ulan ay sa Region 10 sa Bukidnon at Lanao del Norte. Mayroon po tayong isa na nareport na nasawi at 11,000 families na naapektuhan. Ang nasa loob ng evacuation centers dito sa Region 10 is nasa 17 families lang or 78 individuals. (Most of those affected by rains are in Region 10 in Bukidnon and Lanao del Norte. We have one reported fatality and 11,000 families were affected. But only 17 families or 78 individuals are staying inside evacuation centers in Region 10),” he added. Flashfloods were experienced in many parts of Mindanao after the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) forecasted last June 15 that the ITCZ may cause possible flash floods or landslides due to moderate to at times heavy rains. In Region 12, a total of 84 families or 357 individuals were evacuated due to a flashflood in Brgy. Bulucaon, Pigcawayan, Cotabato due to the backflow of water from Rio Grande de Mindanao. There were also 48,513 families or 200,000 individuals affected by flooding in Maguindanao, BARMM due to the overflow of Rio Grande de Mindanao and Libungan River due to incessant rains. “Sapat pa naman po ang assistance na binibigay ng LGUs at kung sakali, nandito naman ang national government agencies katulad ng ODC at DSWD [Department of Social Welfare and Development] para i-augment ang assistance na kailangan ng ating mga kababayang naapektuhan nitong pagbaha (The assistance given by the LGUs is sufficient and national government agencies such as the OCD and DSWD are ready to augment the assistance to residents who are affected by the flooding),” Mariano said. The OCD official also appealed to affected residents to heed the orders of barangay and disaster officials in case there is a need for them to evacuate. “Ang hinihiling lang ng gobyerno ay kooperasyon na kung kailangan lumikas, sana po ay lumikas tayo. Ang kapalit naman nito once na kayo ay makipag-cooperate is aalalayan po kayo ng pamahalaan sa inyong panunuluyan sa evacuation centers. Hindi po tayo pababayaan ng pamahalaan sakaling kayo ay makipag-cooperate at lumikas mula sa ating mga pamamahay (The only thing that the government asks is cooperation, if there is a need to evacuate then do it. In exchange for your cooperation, the government will help you while you are in evacuation centers. The government will not abandon you if you cooperate and evacuate from your houses),” Mariano assured the affected residents.