THE Office of Civil Defense-Davao Region (OCD-Davao) reported that around 800 families were affected by flooding and landslides caused by the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) in the region.
In its initial update, as of 6 a.m. on December 27, 2024, OCD-Davao said that approximately 877 families from three barangays in the Municipality of Malita, Davao Occidental, and about 10 families from Barangay Manikling in San Isidro, Davao Oriental, were preemptively evacuated due to flooding. These families were relocated to four evacuation centers in the area.
“Flooding and landslide incidents occurred in some municipalities of Davao Region particularly in Davao Occidental, Davao del Sur, and Davao Oriental,” the office said.
OCD-Davao said that they conducted both preemptive and forced evacuations in the affected barangays in Malita, Davao Occidental, and San Isidro, Davao Oriental.
The office also reported that the Lais Bridge along the Davao-Sarangani Coastal Road is impassable, while the National Bridge in Malita, Davao Occidental, has a damaged bridge approach. By 6 a.m., the flood waters had subsided.
OCD-Davao further said that disaster response teams from municipalities, cities, and provinces have been conducting close monitoring in their respective Areas of Responsibility (AOR).
The office continues to monitor the situation in these areas and is ready to augment response teams and relief assistance if needed. It is also maintaining its information dissemination efforts through social media, email, SMS, Messenger, and Viber.
In its Regional Geohazard Threat Advisory No. 1, issued by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau-Davao Region (MGB-Davao) on Friday morning, December 27, the office warned that areas highly and very highly susceptible to flooding and rain-induced landslides should be on alert due to the ongoing effects of the ITCZ.
MGB-Davao said that even areas not considered highly or very highly susceptible to hazards should still be cautious. The office specifically warned about areas at the foot of hill slopes with previously reported ground cracks, areas near the crown of old or active landslides, and roadsides where slopes have been modified or steepened due to road development.
The office also cautioned about areas at the mouths of rivers, creeks, and gullies, particularly those prone to landslides. It also identified areas considered moderately to highly susceptible to landslides, based on MGB-Davao’s susceptibility maps.
“The MLGUs (Municipal Local Government Units) should ensure that all evacuation centers are safe from landslides, flood or flash flood, and debris flow,” MGB-Davao said.
To recall, the City Information Office of Mati City reported on December 26 that heavy rains had caused flooding in barangays Tamisan, Bobon, Mamali, and Macambol. A landslide was also reported along the Zigzag Roads in Badas, which disrupted traffic.
Mati-CIO reported that the City Engineer’s Office and rescue teams are mobilizing resources and conducting clearing operations to reopen the affected roads.
Jason John Joyce, the mayor of Jose Abad Santos in Davao Occidental, posted on Facebook on December 26, urging motorists to avoid traveling, as several landslides had occurred in the area and the bridge in the municipality of Malita was impassable. RGP