BUTUAN CITY – Classes were suspended on all levels in Agusan del Sur due to flash flood on Tuesday, January 30.
The Agusan del Sur Provincial Information Office (PIO) and Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) reported on Wednesday, January 31, that work was suspended in the towns of Veruela, Rosario, Trento, and San Francisco due to heavy rain.
Ten barangays in the towns of Bunawan, Trento, and Rosario were flooded and two houses were totally damaged and one house was partially damaged.
The Agusan del Sur PIO and PDRRMO reported that 2,104 families or 7,854 individuals severely affected by flash flood are staying in 29 evacuation centers in affected municipalities.
Agusan del Sur Rep. Adolph Edward “Eddiebong” Plaza and Gov. Santiago Cane have mobilized their disaster and rescue teams to assist flood victims staying in evacuation centers.
“Yes, disaster and rescue teams are already on the ground to help our people affected by the flash floods, particularly those in the second district of the province,” Plaza said.
About 3,500 families in Agusan del Sur have received family food packs through augmentation operations conducted by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Caraga.
DSWD-13 Regional Information Office chief Marko Davey Reyes said the agency has stepped up its response efforts by providing immediate relief through the FFPs.
“The agency’s humanitarian effort will continue, and our regional monitoring and action center is awaiting the request for further assistance of LGUs in affected areas in the region, particularly in Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur,” he said.
The agency also reported that more than 5,000 FFPs are in transit for affected municipalities in Agusan del Sur.
Meanwhile, the regional disaster, action and monitoring center of the Department of Public Works and Highways-13 based here reported on Wednesday that clearing operations continue in areas in Surigao del Sur hit by landslides and flash flood due to continuous rains.
DPWH-13 Regional Director Engr. Pol M. delos Santos said that clearing operations are being conducted on the Lingig-Bislig City highway, particularly in Barangay Pagbakatan in Lingig, the slightly damaged slope protection of the Bislig City bridge, the Taongon Bypass Road in Tagbina, Surigao del Sur, and the Surigao-Davao Coastal Road in Barangay Ipil, Placer, Surigao del Norte.
“Our action teams were already mobilized since early part of this month to immediately address any problem in the national roads which are the vital component in our economic flow,” Delos Santos said.