The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) vowed to support measures to mitigate flood risks particularly in highly susceptible areas in the country as the number of reported deaths due to widespread flooding and landslides in Mindanao increased to 18 on Tuesday, Feb. 6.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said all the reported fatalities were recorded in Davao (Region 11).

There were also 11 injured and three missing individuals in the region.

OCD Administrator Ariel Nepomuceno said among the measures being considered is the strengthening of river basin management.

“We cannot deny the fact that there are challenges and existing problems that need to be resolved with regard to the recurring problem of flooding in various areas of the country and these are pressing concerns. The government agencies, local government units, the private sector and companies, experts, as well as the public should work together in addressing those challenges and problems,” he said.

“We need to strengthen our interventions and implement long-term solutions. These may include revisiting and formulation of new policies and plans that will cover all major river basins; strict implementation against human activities that aggravate the problems such as irresponsible mining practices; environmental protection; improvement of flood-control projects and other engineering interventions, permanent relocation of vulnerable communities. Clearer accountabilities must also be drawn,” he added.

A large part of Mindanao has been swamped due to the combined effects of the trough of a now-dissipated low pressure area (LPA) and northeast monsoon (amihan) since Jan. 28.

The NDRRMC said 1,122,975 individuals or 324,040 families were affected by the bad weather in Northern Mindanao (Region 10), Davao region, Soccsksargen (Region 12), Caraga (Region 13), and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Of this, there were 795,057 individuals or 200,847 families displaced due to the flooding and landslides.

“Multiple weather disturbances affected the Davao region in just one month. The continuous rains in the upland areas, the heavy siltation of Tagum-Libuganon River, and the rise of water levels in several river systems due to excessive rains have caused landslides and flooding in the region. We are discussing these concerns alongside the ongoing response operations in the area,” Nepomuceno said.