Davao flood death toll rises to 29

DAVAO CITY -- The death toll on the flash flood that hit five villages here rose to 29 as local officials scramble to provide relief assistance to at least 12,000 families affected by the inundation.

The City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO) identified the 29 fatalities as: Rowena Valderoza, 7; Catherine Valderoza, 4; Lydia Valderoza; John Carlo Alvarez, 3; Jason Saturos Male, 3; Chzareha Saturos, 33; John Michael Alvarez, 7; John Cris Alvarez, 8; Kenneth Ian Ayag, 4; Angelita E. Paches, 65; Melchin Soreño, 2; Alexis Baricuatro, 4; Alexandria Baricuatro, 8; Adora Baricuatro, 26; Tito Servedad, 53; Beth Amatos, 7; Carl Andre Oliveros, 9; Dominic Onde, 30; Cassandra Supa, 2; Jaime Bawo, 41; Conchita Bawo, 43; Rachel Ayag, 5; Jovito Munsad, 60; Vicente Ladaga, 58; Antonio Inciso, 77; Keizle Tano, 16; Kent Aneglo Tano, 9; Cherry Saturo, 4; and Rogelio Valderoza III, 2.

The CCSDO identified the five missing persons as Cherry Saturos, 4; Mark Louie Palomar, 3 months old; Zaldy Supa, 34; Kent Angelo Tano, 9; and Rogelio Balderosa, 2.

Five villages here were placed under state of calamity Wednesday after flash floods triggered by torrential rain swept away dozens of houses and killed dozens of people, mostly children.

Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte on Thursday said the CSSDO is still finalizing the list of affected families who will receive financial assistance from the City Government.

"I did not give a go signal to release it (cash assistance) today because we expect to receive complaints that is why I decided to release food instead," Duterte told Sun.Star Davao in a text message.

The mayor added there were some families who haven't received the food packs because they were not included on the list.

She said the food packs handed by the City Government to the affected families include five kilos of rice, three canned goods, and three packs of noodles.

As to the 29 fatalities, Duterte said the City Government will shoulder their funeral bills.

In a press briefing at the Public Safety and Command Center (PSCC) on Wednesday night, Duterte said families whose houses were destroyed by the floods will receive P10,000, while those whose houses were damaged will P5,000 cash assistance.

Aside from this, the City Government had also identified relocation sites for families affected by the latest catastrophe.

Roberto P. Alabado III, acting chief of the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO), said a 22-hectare land in Los Amigos and a 20-hectare lot in Lasang are being eyed as relocation sites for indigent families in five flood-affected communities.

He explained that because of the limited resources of the City Government, only families classified as indigents will get lots where they can build their homes.

"Dapat indigents lang jud ug katong mga illegal settlers nga na wash out ang ilang mga balay sa flash floods (They must be indigents and those houses have been washed out by the flash floods)," Alabado said on Thursday’s I-Speak re-launching.

He said the property in Los Amigos can accommodate up to 700 indigent families, while the one in Lasang can house up to 1,000 families.

Each lot will have an average area of 60-80 square-meters that is enough for an average family.

Alabado said there are some portions of the property in Los Amigos that are flood-prone but not that worse, compared to some flood-prone areas in the city. The Lasang property, on the other hand, is ideal for living, the official said.

Alabado said based on their previous experiences, they are having difficulty in persuading residents, especially that the relocation sites are far from the downtown Davao and most of the affected persons work.

Gawad Kalinga, a non-government organization involved in providing decent shelters to displaced Filipino and illegal setters, will assist the city in convincing victims to relocate.

Meanwhile, 11 public schools affected by Tuesday's flash floods in Davao City will remain closed until Monday, a Department of Education (DepEd) official said.

Eva Antipuesto, administrative office of DepEd-Davao, said of the 11 schools, three are still under water. These include Escoda Elementary School in Ma-a, Matina Central Elementary School, and Matina Pangi Elementary School.

Other schools that needed to be cleaned of silts and mud are Sped Bangkal's elementary and secondary departments, Don Manuel Gutierrez Elementary School, Soledad Dolor Elementary School, Governor Duterte National High School, Mabini National High School and Mabini Elementary School, Daniel R. Aguinaldo National High School, and Bayanihan Elementary School.

Antipuesto said these schools are still wet due to the flooding. Books and chairs were damaged. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)