‘Chedeng’ evacuees in Davao Occidental told to go home

MALITA, DAVAO DEL SUR — At least 500 families who sought shelter in government evacuation centers before the landfall of Tropical Storm “Chedeng” were allowed to go home on Wednesday as the weather normalized, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDDRMC) officials said.

Classes have also resumed in all levels in both public and private schools while work in all government offices was back to normal after being suspended on Tuesday.

Harry Camoro, PDRRMC action officer, said there were still rain showers in Malita town but the sun has shone in Don Marcelino town early morning.
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PDRRMO still had to assess the damage the storm caused on agriculture crops.  Camoro said there was no reported damage on infrastructure in the province.

Chedeng made its landfall in the eastern coast of the province around 5:30 a.m. Tuesday, after the PDRRMO ordered pre-empted evacuation the day before among residents of low-lying, landslide-prone and flashflood-prone areas.

Camoro said his office still had to conduct an assessment with the Municipal Agriculture Office to see if the rain had caused damage to crops in the province.

But he said “Chedeng” helped farmers hit by the dry spell.

Some villages which suffered damages could not be validated easily because of the absence of cell sites in the area.