DAVAO CITY (DAVAO CITY/29 August) – A total of 545 families from six barangays of Davao City were displaced after the Talomo River overflowed following heavy rains Wednesday evening, according to the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC)-Davao Region.
The families from the flooded portions of Los Amigos, Tugbok, Talomo, Bangkal, Ulas and Matina Pangi sought refuge at Los Amigos Evacuation Center, barangays halls and barangay gymnasiums, RDRRMC said.
It added the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office imposed forced evacuation in Barangay Matina Aplaya, Barangay Crossing and Matina Pangi. Responders also conducted a rescue operation in Talomo.
It said power outages occurred in the affected barangays since Wednesday as part of the precautionary measures of the Davao Light and Power Company (DLPC).
In a statement issued at 9:40 a.m. Thursday, DLPC said power lines were cut at 7 p.m. Wednesday to avoid “electrocution incidents as water already submerged houses and their electrical outlets.” Power has not been restored in Bangkal, Ulas and Tugbok
“Davao Light is exerting its best efforts in order to expedite the repairs of the power lines. The power supply will be restored in the isolated areas only after repairs are done and a thorough inspection on customers’ facilities is completed to ensure safety of customers,” it said.
In a forecast issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration at 4 a.m. on Thursday, Mindanao will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers due to localized thunderstorms.
It added Davao Region will continue to experience cloudy to very cloudy skies with scattered and intermittent light to moderate rainshowers.
Lorna Alderite, acting chief of the Farm Division of the City Agriculturist Office, said an assessment is ongoing to determine the damage to crops.
She said affected farmers of high value crops and operators of catfish ponds in Los Amigos can access support from the city government.
“For owners of the fishponds, you can request for free fingerlings every first Friday of the month,” she said. (Antonio L. Colina IV/MindaNews)
