DAVAO ORIENTAL –A total of 312 families who have been evacuated in the municipality of Cateel following the pre-emptive evacuation last night are now awaiting orders to go home as the town already starts to experience a fair weather.
As of 1:00 this afternoon, all heavy rainfall advisories over Mindanao are now terminated, However, PDRRMC personnel are still monitoring the situation on the ground.
Last night’s evacuation was ordered by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) due to the continuous heavy downpour brought by the tail-end of the cold front.
Troops from the Philippine Army’s 67th Infantry Battalion and the Municipal DRRMO led the evacuation of 24 families in Barangay Abejod, 5 families in Barangay Santa Fe, 31 families in Barangay San Rafael, 8 in San Alfonso, 22 in San Vicente, 109 in Alegria, 63 in San Miguel, and 50 in Poblacion. Families who evacuated to their relatives’ homes are still being accounted by the MDRRMO.
These barangays are considered vulnerable areas as they are located near the Aragon Dam which is being constantly monitored. As of 11:54 this morning, the water level of the Aragon Dam subsided to normal at 18.8 meters from 20.1 meters last night. Authorities, however, are still monitoring the water level.
While the Municipality of Cateel has activated its Incident Command System, the PDRRMC has also deployed equipment and manpower to assist in the transport of evacuees, clearing and other interventions in the affected areas.
Some 400 food packs sent to the area were distributed to the affected families while heavy equipment have also been deployed, according to the PDRRMC.
Based on reports from the PDRRMO-Emergency Operation Center, last night’s waist-level water in Barangay Dapnan, Baganga town has also already subsided. Rivers in Barangay Mahan-ub and Baganga River, both situated also in Baganaga town are now in normal levels. Roads going to Barangay Man-ub are now currently passable after two box culverts broke last night.
Meanwhile in Boston town, water level has also subsided in the river near the Ibobotoc Bridge in Barangay Carmen and Dakung Banwa River in Barangay San Jose. All 6 families who were evacuated last night in Barangay Carmen were already cleared to go back home.
Although there are minimal landslides in Cateel-Compostela Road and some areas in Boston town, all roads are passable. Clearing operation of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is currently ongoing.
PDRRMC personnel are currently conducting a meeting with its counterparts in the municipalities. Residents were given instruction on what to do in times of flooding and heavy rainfall.
Meanwhile, Gale Warning is still raised in the province. Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves. Photos Courtesy of Cateel MDRRMO
