‘Crising’ leaves 2 dead, displaces 146,000 people

MANILA, Philippines - Tropical depression “Crising” left two dead while more than 146,000 people from the Visayas and Mindanao were displaced by floods and landslides spawned by the weather disturbance.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) yesterday said Crising slightly increased speed as it continued to move out of the country.

Some P96 million in standby funds was set aside by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for the purchase of food and other relief items for Crising’s victims.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) identified the fatalities as Erwin Campana, 43, of Barangay Camansi, in Montevista, and Francisco Digaynon of Barangay Andap, New Bataan, both in Compostela Valley.

The victims drowned while crossing the Saug and Taytayan rivers, respectively.

Four were injured in a landslide that hit Sapad town, in Lanao del Norte. They were identified as Anatallo, 29; Maria, 20; Dodong, 8, and a nine-month-old baby boy, all surnamed Nacua.

Two were reported missing. They were Percela Apolinario, 63, of Libacao, Aklan, and Suden Abdullah, of Maitum, Sarangani.

The NDRRMC said some 1,074 persons on board 11 vessels remain stranded in Zamboanga, Pagadian, Iligan, Bongao and Jolo.

Weather forecaster Joey Figuracion said from 19 kilometers per hour (kph) on Wednesday afternoon, Crising slightly increased speed to 22 kph.

“It accelerated because nothing was blocking its path as it went out to the West Philippine Sea. It was expected to be outside of the Philippine area of responsibility by yesterday (Thursday) evening,” said Figuracion.

PAGASA has already lowered the public storm signal it earlier raised in the southern part of Palawan.

The total number of affected individuals has reached 146,041 or 31,749 families from 113 barangays in Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao, SOCCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, General Santos), Caraga and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Of the number, 2,702 families composed of 12,689 individuals were sheltered in 18 evacuation centers.               

“Crising” damaged 87 houses in Northern Mindanao and Davao region. It destroyed five roads, a footbridge and seven bridges in Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Davao and Caraga.

DSWD secretary Corazon Soliman said a P15.84-million standby fund – P10.45 million for family food packs and P42.44 million for relief supplies – were pre-positioned in DSWD field offices in regions IV-B, IX, X, XI, XII, CARAGA and ARMM.

In Region X, some 644 families composed of 3,220 individuals from four villages in Valencia City, Bukidnon are currently sheltered in five evacuation centers in Batangan, Maapag, Pinatilan, and Catambalon.

The social welfare office of Valencia City provided 15 sacks of rice and 10 cases of sardines for the evacuees.

Standby funds amounting to P607,599 and 10,000 packs of relief goods worth P2.31 million are currently available at the DSWD field office X in Cagayan de Oro City.

In Region XI, some 19,384 families composed of 96,205 individuals were displaced by Crising in 49 barangays and eight towns of Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley.

Eleven evacuation centers set-up in Region XI served as temporary shelter for 690 families composed of 2,996 individuals.

Soliman ordered the DSWD Quick Response Teams and Social Welfare and Development teams in the regions to monitor the extent of damage brought about by the weather disturbance.

In Cotabato City, close to 4,000 families have relocated to higher ground after three days of continuous downpour caused the Rio Grande de Mindanao to swell, flooding villages along its banks that separate the provinces of Maguindanao and North Cotabato.

Worst hit by floods were the riverside barangays in the adjoining towns of Kabacan in North Cotabato, and Montawal and Pagalungan, both in Maguindanao.

Catholic radio station dxMS reported Thursday morning that several low-lying villages in Midsayap, North Cotabato have also been flooded due to the overflowing of downstream channels of the Rio Grande de Mindanao that straddles the affected areas.

Susan Macalipat, social welfare officer of Kabacan, said the seven villages situated near the riverbanks are now submerged in waist-deep floodwaters.

Macalipat said 2,229 families were displaced when rampaging floodwaters struck barangays Kayaga, Pedtad, Buluan, Nangaan, and Cuyapon and Cuyapon in the eastern part of the town.

The municipal engineer of Montawal, Joseph Adam, said 5,466 individuals, mostly children and women, fled to higher ground as floodwaters inundated 11 riverside farming enclaves. Seven of the 11 flooded areas – Bulit, Pagagawan, Kayaga, Limbalod, Maridagao, Tunggol, and Talitay – have become ghost villages due to massive evacuation. – With Evelyn Macairan, John Unson