Davao Norte, Bukidnon under calamity state

Heavy rains dumped by Tropical Storm “Vinta” last month induced flash floods that carried boulders, logs and other debris through this waterway in Lanao del Norte province. —RICHEL V. UMEL

DAVAO CITY—The provinces of Bukidnon and Davao del Norte have been placed under a state of calamity recently after posting a combined P303 million worth of crop damage from floods and landslides triggered by weather disturbances that included Severe Tropical Storm “Vinta” (international name: Tembin) last month.

Records from Bukidnon’s Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) showed that the province lost P109 million worth of crops, most of these corn, to flooding that hit the province.

The declaration would allow the provincial government to tap its calamity fund to repair and rehabilitate infrastructure damaged by floods and landslides. Bukidnon recorded at least seven storm-related fatalities.

Davao del Norte, on the other hand, posted at least P194 million worth of losses in rice, banana and other crops due to floods triggered by heavy rains dumped by Vinta, Gov. Antonio Rafael del Rosario said.

More than 66,000 families were displaced in the province as Saug and Liboganon rivers and several of their tributaries overflowed, flooding homes and swamping banana plantations and rice fields in the towns of Carmen, Sto. Tomas, Kapalong, Asuncion, Dujali and New Corella, the Davao del Norte PDRRMC said.

Two other weather disturbances—Tropical Depression “Agaton” and the incessant rains brought about by the tail end of a cold front—also affected Davao del Norte province early this month but did not trigger massive flooding as Vinta did, Del Rosario said.

He said the declaration of state of calamity in the province earlier this month would hasten aid to affected farmers and residents. —FRINSTON LIM