THE Department of Social Welfare and Development - Davao Region (DSWD-Davao) has extended around ₱12 million worth of assistance to families impacted by the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) in the region.
According to Rachel M. Guerrero, Section Head of DSWD-Davao, a total of 24,780 families have been affected in Davao Occidental and Davao Oriental, based on reports from municipal and provincial disaster risk reduction and management offices as of January 2, 2024.
“As of the assistance that we provided sa DSWD sa atoang mga apektado, we have a total of P12,734,026 for food and non-food items na atoang go provide (As of the assistance that we, DSWD, have provided to the affected families, we have a total of ₱12,734,026 for food and non-food items),” Guerrero said during a radio interview on Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on Friday morning, January 3, 2024.
The aid includes food packs comprising rice, canned goods, and sachet drinks, as well as non-food items such as hygiene kits, family kits, kitchen kits, sleeping kits, and modular tents for those with totally or partially damaged homes.
Guerrero assured that DSWD-Davao continues to monitor the situation closely, especially as the rainy season persists. She also reminded residents to stay prepared by assembling “Go Bags” and educating children on responding during natural disasters.
Davao Occidental and Davao Oriental have experienced widespread flooding and landslides due to the ITCZ. The municipalities of Don Marcelino and Malita have been particularly hard hit, prompting the declaration of a state of calamity.
A report from the Office of Civil Defense-Davao Region (OCD-Davao) as of 10 p.m. on January 1, 2025, indicated the following impact to
16,272 families in Davao Occidental, 8,464 families in Davao de Oro, and 44 families in Davao Oriental.
Additionally, four roads and three bridges in Davao Occidental remain impassable. The province has reported 690 partially damaged houses and 383 completely damaged homes.
The estimated damage to infrastructure in Davao Occidental and Davao del Norte amounts to ₱215.7 million. RGP
