Estimated cost of damages to crops is now at P24.475 million while damage to the fishing industry is P1.63 million. Damage to infrastructure meanwhile now reaches P9.295 million.
In the latest report by the Office of Civil Defense floodwaters in the towns of Sto. Tomas, Kapalong, and Asuncion in Davao del Norte have already subsided except in the low-lying communities of the towns of Braulio Dujali, Carmen, and Tagum City that are said to be still experiencing moderate flooding.
In Davao Oriental, municipalities along the east coast continue to experience intermittent rainshowers while floodwaters in the towns of Baganga, Manay, and Tarragona have already subsided.
The national highway connecting Don Marcelino and Jose Abas Santos in Davao del Sur is now passable after being hit by a landslide few days ago.
Many of the affected residents have reportedly returned to their homes after spending few days in evacuation centers.
Meanwhile, the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC) has launched its own website to hasten swift coordination and assistance particularly in times of disaster and closely monitor disaster prone areas together with the local disaster coordinating council and other concerned government agencies.
With the ongoing continuous rainfall since New Year's Day, RDCC urged local disaster councils to be alert although Davao City is a typhoon-free area.
Civil defense office director Carmelito Lupo urged all local disaster coordinating councils down to the municipal level to keep close monitoring of disaster prone areas and be prepared for any eventuality due to continuous rain.
Prone disaster areas in the mining places of Diwalwal in Monkayo and in Pantukan, both located in the province of Compostela Valley, are also being watched and residents are warned to vacate disaster prone areas.
Areas with steep slops and cracks found in some parts of the mining areas are also being closely watched and monitored.
Lupo said that during the first quarter of this year, reported flooding in the municipalities of Carmen, Braulio Dujali, and Asuncion in Davao del Norte are noted although there was no reported major damage on properties or casualties.
Reported erosion on hillside soil along national highway going to Maragusan in Compostela Valley was also noted but the Department of Public Works and Highways and local government units have immediately rendered assistance and bulldozers were swiftly dispatched in these areas.
Lupo alerted the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Service Administration or Pagasa including the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Philvocs) immediately to disseminate correct information on the weather forecasts, typhoons, and other disastrous events.
He said they will heighten the information and education campaign drive on disaster preparedness to make people more aware of the effect of disasters and also prevent the loss of lives and properties. (BOT/PIA 11)
