Manila: The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Davao Region (DSWD-11) reported Monday that the southwest monsoon, locally known as 'habagat,' has affected 719 families, totaling 2,291 individuals, across 10 barangays in three municipalities.
According to Philippines News Agency, the weather disturbance also resulted in damage to 41 houses, as detailed in a bulletin posted on the agency's official Facebook page. As of July 9, DSWD-11 had strategically prepositioned 181,162 family food packs (FFPs) worth PHP112.3 million, along with non-food items valued at PHP50.7 million and additional supplies worth PHP7 million. Furthermore, the office has kept PHP2 million in standby funds to bolster relief operations.
Jose Abad Santos Mayor Jason John Joyce announced on July 12 that severe flooding in Barangay Tanuman led to the deaths of three residents. Additionally, six individuals remain missing and one person sustained injuries. Persistent rains have rendered several roads impassable, necessitating immediate clearing operations by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) of Davao Occidental and the Municipal DRRMO of Malita. Efforts to clear debris and assess upland roads are ongoing to restore accessibility and ensure public safety.
Response teams are actively working to remove fallen trees, rocks, and soil while inspecting upland roads for potential hazards such as landslides and erosion. "The assessment findings will guide the implementation of appropriate response and mitigation measures to help ensure public safety and improve access to affected communities," stated the Davao Occidental PDRRMO.
