Mindanaotoday.com | MisOcc under State of Calamity amid mass flooding
By: Shaine Mae R. Nagtalon
Misamis Occidental – The province of Misamis Occidental is declared under state of calamity due to heavy rains that caused continuous flooding that affected 49 barangays over the Christmas weekend.
Oaminal explained the importance of declaring the province under the state of calamity, saying, the LGUs have the power to declare the state of calamity in case there are incidents like heavy rains and flooding with the recommendations of the Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (DRRMC).
Oaminal also reported that there are barangays in Aloran town that easily get inundated even with a light rainfall. These are barangays Makawa, Casusan and Pelong.
On December 25, the Palayan River overflowed the highway and affected four barangays of Tawi-tawi, Lobogon and others. Meanwhile, in Panaon town, there were only two barangays which were slightly affected.
He said that in Oroquieta City, the main cause of flooding was the rise of the water level of its major river, the Layawan River. The affected areas and barangays are the Public Market, Poblacion 2, Brgy. Talic, San Vicente Bajo, and Pines which are situated along the highways.
Oaminal also ordered yesterday the residents of the affected areas to voluntarily evacuate for their safety.
In Jimenez town, the water rose in barangay Palilad and Tabo-o prompting the 4,500 people to evacuate.
For Sinacaban town, the coastal road has been slightly damaged and the evacuees are already at the evacuation center and the boundary between Sinacaban and Tudela towns has high water level, making the road unpassable, said the governor.
Oaminal also said the floodwater in Tudela town is higher today, December 26 than yesterday, as the Paka River, which is connected to Clarin town, overflowed.
He also visited the Paka River in Clarin town to observe the level and the current of the water. Meanwhile, on December 26, the water of said river is high, prompting the governor to send two dump trucks to take the affected families to the evacuation center.
Meanwhile, second district Rep. Sancho Fernando Oaminal also said that he visited various evacuation centers in District II.
“Atong gituyok ang nagkalain-lain nga evacuation center dinhi sa atong distrito ug gi storya nato ang mga mayores. Atong mayores they are on top of the situation and they are doing everything that they can using all the resources within their reach para ma provide ang panginahanglon sa mga evacuees nato,” he said.
(We roamed around the different evacuation centers here in our district and we talked to the mayors. Our mayors are on top of the situation and they are doing everything they can using all the resources within their reach to provide the needs of our evacuees.)
During the PDRRM Council emergency meeting, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Misamis Occidental together with the 17 Local Government Operations Officers (LGOOs) explained they continue to monitor the weather situation in the province.
As of December 27, a total of 2,133 families or 9,218 individuals were affected in the province of Misamis Occidental. There are 6 reported casualties of which six are dead, two injured, and three missing. Power interruption and communication signal were also lost particularly in some municipalities of Misamis Occidental.(SMRN/PIA-10/Misamis Occidental)
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