Isyu Mindanao tackles Davao floods

TODAY on GMA TV5, Davao's Isyu Mindanao takes a look at the most recent disaster to hit Southern Mindanao.

Award-winning host and filmmaker John Paul Seniel takes viewers to the mighty Davao River, the longest river in Davao City, which recently swelled and caused severe flooding in Jade Valley Subdivision in Barangay Tigatto after more than 24 hours of continuous rain.

Some say that the Jade Valley Subdivision was first submerged in flood waters in 2002. However, two news articles from Sun.Star Davao revealed that said subdivision was once part of the Davao River.

Two geological formations along the Davao River using the topographic map by the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (Namria) also identified Jade Valley Subdivision as once "oxbow lakes," which explains why Jade Valley will always be flooded whenever the Davao River swells.

Meanwhile, Jennifer Solis tackles the story of more than 300 fishermen who until now are missing after their fishing vessel was damaged by Bagyong Pablo. These fishermen were last seen in Davao Oriental last December 2012.

Forty days after the incident, the family members held a mass at the General Santos International Fishport and laid a wreath off Sarangani Bay in remembrance of their lost loved ones. Authorities, in turn, assured the family members that they will continue their search and rescue operations until the missing fishermen were found.

Also featured this week is Seniel’s recent visit to Davao Oriental where he discovered that boxes of medicines that are about to expire next month were being distributed in various health centers as donation to the victims of Bagyong Pablo.

These medicines, mostly injectable antibiotics, were allegedly donated by Impex Trading through Islamic Kapayapaan Inc. to the Office of Congressman Nelson Dayanghirang.

What health hazards are being posed by these soon-to-expire medicines which are supposed to be administered in hospitals only? What actions will the local government unit take to resolve this matter?

Tune in to Isyu Mindanao, which airs every Saturday at 7:30 a.m., on GMA Network's regional stations in Davao, Cagayan de Oro, and General Santos.