Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo today said that the agency is closely monitoring the situation in Cagayan de Oro and that it continues to receive reports from its Field Office X  as to the status of citizens affected by flashfloods and landslides due to  the tail-end of a cold front that is bringing heavy downpour in the region.

Quoting reports from FO X, Sec. Taguiwalo said that as of 8:20 PM yesterday,  the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Committee (CDRRMC) of Cagayan de Oro City implemented preemptive evacuation to residents living along the Cagayan de Oro River and Iponan River, specifically residents of Pagatpat, Tuburan, Tumpagon, Pigsag-an, Taglimao, Pagalungan, Lumbia, San Simon, Canitoan, Iponan and Bulua.

This after the CDRRMC raised the flooding river to Orange Level.

“Our regional officials are also maintaining constant communication with officials of the local government units. We have reports that that the LGU has opened evacuation centers in  Bulua Covered Court in Barangay Bulua ( 27 families with 117 individuals); Nazareth Covered Court (22 families with 3 families coming from Barangay Camaman-an); 4th Infantry Division Gymnasium in Patag ( 30 families with an estimated 120 individuals based on multiplying the number to four).

“We are very pleased to announce that the CDO LGU and its disaster units as well as social welfare office are addressing the immediate needs of affected citizens. Our Field Office X is always prepared to provide augmentation support. The DSWD Central Office, in the meantime, is on standby and ready to release more assistance if and when the need arises,” said Sec. Taguiwalo.

The following are based on reports sent by DSWD FO X:

In Barangay Canitoan, the city social welfare and development office (CSWDO) run by the LGU disclosed that 31 families are affected by the flooding with two families whose house are totally damaged and 29 others are partially damaged.

In Barangay FS Catanico, 20 families were affected by flooding with 89 individuals, added CSWDO report.

Disaster focal of DSWD-Field Office X is closely coordinating with CDRRMC of Cagayan de Oro City to identify the number of evacuees inside the evacuation centers and number of evacuation centers opened in the mentioned barangays.

In Misamis Oriental Province, Governor Yevgeny Vincent Emano has declared suspension of classes today, January 17, to pre-schools, elementary, and high school throughout the province.

In Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental, the CDRRMC opened evacuation centers in the following: Gingoog City Comprehensive National High School – 47 families with 231 individuals coming from Barangay 23; Talisay Elementary School – 34 families with 131 individuals; Talisay National High School – 5 families with 31 individuals; Santiago Barangay Hall – 61 families with 304 individuals; ASL Gym – 47 families with 215 individuals from Barangay 25; and GCJC Evacuation Center – 37 families with 101 individuals from Barangay 24A; ASL Gym – 4 families with 20 individuals from Barangay Lunao.

Magnum Radio and Bombo Radyo Cagayan de Oro stations also reported one missing in Magsaysay town, Misamis Oriental and one death in Opol municipality after being carried away by flooding.

In Iligan City, Lanao del Norte,  SWAD Team Leader of Lanao del Norte Evelyn Madrio is closely coordinating with the CDRRMC of Iligan City for the identification of evacuees. Initial report received disclosed that CDRRMC opened evacuation centers in the following: Mahayahay Center – 30 families; Del Carmen Evacuation Center – 25 families; Ubaldo Evacuation Center – 35 families; and San Roque Evacuation Center – 22 families.

Sec. Taguiwalo said that all DSWD-FO X staff are on standby and are stationed at the office to immediately provide aid to the LGU and affected citizens.

DSWD is continuously monitoring the situation because the local PAG ASA has raised the rainful to Red Level Warning as of last night with serious flooding.

DSWD-Field Office X has posted hotlines of some search and rescue units at its Facebook account.

As of press time, prepositioned goods of DSWD-Field Office X are now on standby at the five provinces of Northern Mindanao: Bukidnon, Camiguin, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, and Misamis Oriental.

Meanwhile,    DSWD Central Office  is set to airlift  800 family food packs (FFPs), 5,000 pieces of blankets, and 5,000 ready-to-eat Chicken Arroz Caldo as augmentation support to Region X,  depending on the earliest availability of Philippine Airforce C 130 plane.  ###