Marcos orders swift aid for flood-hit Davao City

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang yesterday assured residents affected by severe flooding in Davao City – a bailiwick of the Dutertes – of immediate assistance from the national government. Palace press officer Claire Castro said that the Department of Social Welfare and Development is ready to provide food packs and other essential items to displaced families. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is also ready to assist in the repair of damaged structures in flooded areas, she added. “They are all ready to extend whatever assistance is possible to our fellow citizens in Davao City and Davao. They should not worry because the government does not look at political affiliations,” Castro said over dzMM. “The President treats all our citizens equally. The government is prepared to provide all the necessary assistance for our countrymen there,” she said. Asked whether Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte had asked for aid from the government, Castro responded: “We have no specific information on whether he sought help from the President.” “Last I heard – I hope I’m right – he is abroad…Mayor Baste. The Vice President is also abroad,” Castro said, referring to the Davao City mayor and his sister, Vice President Sara Duterte. Heavy rains triggered flooding in parts of Davao City on Friday, forcing residents to evacuate as rivers overflowed and floodwaters submerged residential communities. Several houses were damaged by the flooding that swept away vehicles and motorcycles. Among the flooded houses was that of former president Rodrigo Duterte along Taal St., Bangkal in Davao City. Monsoon rains will be felt in Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon and Visayas today, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. Cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms will be experienced in Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Mimaropa, Zambales, Bataan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Aklan, and Antique due to the southwest monsoon or habagat. Under these weather conditions, possible flash floods or landslides due to moderate to at times heavy rains are expected. The rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms caused by localized thunderstorms, with possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms. PAGASA is not monitoring any low-pressure area that may develop into a tropical cyclone. Heavy equipment from the DPWH has been mobilized to repair a collapsed section of the Bukidnon-Davao Road (Buda Road) in Sitio Marahan, Barangay Marilog, Davao City, following orders from President Marcos to fast-track repairs of critical thoroughfares in the region. Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon personally inspected the damaged road segment on July 23 to oversee emergency operations and ensure the immediate implementation of temporary measures to restore normal traffic flow. Beyond the initial intervention, Dizon instructed regional engineers to work on a long-term, structural solution to fortify the major highway, which serves as a vital economic lifeline connecting Davao City and Bukidnon. — Rainier Allan Ronda, Josiah Antonio