DAVAO CITY – The 10th Infantry Division activated  Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response Units on Friday, Feb. 20, as heavy rains from the shear line continue to pound the Davao region.

10th ID commander Major Gen. Alvin Luzon said they have deployed teams to conduct preemptive evacuations, clear blocked roads, and coordinate with local disaster authorities.

Eleven landslide and 53 flooding incidents were recorded in the provinces of Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro, Agusan del Sur, and Surigao del Sur as of posting time.

Luzon said their response teams have cleared nine landslide-affected areas, restored accessibility for relief operations. Two others are partially passable with ongoing clearing efforts.

He said 1,139 individuals are taking shelter in designated evacuation centers. The 25th, 66th, and 67th Infantry Battalions are helping local officials keep communities safe.

Luzon said the 10th ID has over 60 Disaster Response Teams on standby, supported by mobility and medical evacuation resources, enabling rapid and sustained deployment.

The Army officer assured the public that their units remain on heightened alert and fully prepared and proactively deployed to protect lives and assist affected communities.

“We continue to work closely with our local government partners to ensure swift response and sustained humanitarian support. The safety of our people remains our top priority,” Luzon said.

Luzon added that they are closely coordinating with provincial and municipal disaster risk reduction offices for real-time monitoring and immediate assistance.

Fourteen barangays were flooded and seven people were killed, the Davao Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said. No injuries or missing persons were reported as of posting time.

The RDRRMC said 48 barangays were affected, impacting 2,411 families or 10,267 individuals. Forty-two families (997 persons) are staying in evacuation centers and 318 families (1,574 persons) are sheltering outside.

Two houses were partially damaged in Purok Awos, Monkayo, Davao de Oro.

Assessment of the cost of damage to homes, agriculture, and infrastructure is ongoing.

Work was suspended in 10 areas while classes in 45 schools were cancelled. All five provinces of the Davao Region, including Davao City, implemented class suspensions on all levels.

The RDRRMC noted that two road sections in Monkayo and Montevista are impassable to all types of vehicles, with only one lane passable in some areas. Three bridges – the Montevista Bridge, the Provincial Bridge, and the 2-Brgy Bridge – are impassable.

There were no reported disruptions in seaports, flights, power supply, water services, and communication lines.

RDRRMC said continuous coordination and monitoring are being conducted with local disaster risk reduction and management offices. The Office of Civil Defense-11 Emergency Operations Center is on blue alert for close monitoring.

Authorities have disseminated early warning advisories and conducted response operations in landslide-affected areas in Davao de Oro and Davao Oriental.

Data may change as validation and updating of situational reports continue, the agency said.