DAVAO CITY – Office of Civil Defense-Davao region chief Ednar Dayanghirang said massive drainage problem is among the causes of the perennial flooding in different parts of the region.
Even without the effects of weather disturbances such as shearline, Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), and tropical cyclones, Dayanghirang said that flooding was still recorded in many flood-prone areas in the Davao region.
He issued the statement following the reported flood and landslide in some parts of Davao region due to the effects of the ITCZ particularly in some municipalities in Davao Occidental, Davao del Sur, and Davao Oriental.
“I found out that there’s still flooding even without a typhoon, tropical storm, or shearline because of the massive drainage problem,” Dayanghirang said.
He said that a part of a drainage system in Panabo and Tagum cities in Davao del Norte as well as Mati in Davao Oriental allegedly had flaws in its design that may have contributed to the flooding.
In Davao Occidental, the flooding in the coastal towns of Don Marcelino and Malita was caused by swelling of the river systems, Dayanghirang said.
He added that the topography of these mountainous towns may have also aggravated the flooding. “Malita and Don Marcelino are surrounded by mountains. Thus, water from the mountains flowed down into the rivers that caused the widespread flooding.”
The OCD reported that flooding in these towns have affected at least 33,000 people. Both towns have been placed under a state of calamity.
Data from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau showed that many parts of Davao Occidental are highly susceptible to flooding and landslide.
Dayanghirang cited a clogged drainage system in Barangay Bato in Santa Cruz town in Davao del Sur that resulted into massive flooding last month. Flooding rendered a portion of the highway impassable for about two hours.
During a recent visit, he discovered that the drainage of the national road is filled with garbage, gravel, and sand.
Dayanghirang said that he has requested the Department of Public Works and Highways to clear the clogged drainage canals.