2,000 families flee as floods, landslides hit S.

Mindanao

By: Frinston Lim - @inquirerdotnet

Inquirer Mindanao / 04:53 PM January 12, 2014

TAGUM CITY One person was hurt and more than 2,000 families have fled to safer grounds
due to landslides and flooding spawned by a low pressure area in several areas in southern
Mindanao, authorities on Sunday said.
Some 1,400 families went packing to schools and other evacuation centers as up to chest-deep
floodwaters inundated communities in four municipalities and one city in Davao del Norte,
according to Senior Superintendent Samuel Gadingan, Davao del Norte police chief.

Gadingan said the rice-producing town of Asuncion reported the most number of evacuees at
1,270 families as Saug River overflowed, rendering roads impassable.

Other affected areas in the province, according to Gadingan, include New Corella (101 families),
Kapalong (23 families), Tagum (78 families) and Carmen, with five families.

In nearby Compostela Valley, a 5-year old boy was injured and three houses were buried in two
landslides that hit the mining village of Mt. Diwata, in Monkayo town, on Saturday morning, police
said.

Minor landslides were also reported in the towns of Maco and Nabunturan, with floodwaters
submerging most major roads across the province, said Senior Supt. Camilo Cascolan, provincial
police chief.

The wooden bridge in Andap had collapsed after Mayo River overflowed late on Saturday,
isolating Sitio Pagsilaan and other communities, Marlon Esperanza, information officer of New
Bataan town, told the Inquirer by text message.

Officials said a total of 601 families or about 2,400 persons have been evacuated in Compostela
Valley and that police and rescue teams from the provincial government were already deployed to
respond to any emergency.

Affected areas in Compostela Valley include Monkayo, with 343 families, Laak with 110 families,
Nabunturan (33 families), Montevista (43 families, New Bataan with 22 households, and Pantukan
with 20.

Flooding was also reported in Davao Oriental overnight, and a concrete bridge in Quinono-an in
Manay town was also destroyed by rampaging waters around 6 a.m. on Sunday, Senior
Superintendent Jose Carumba, Davao Oriental police chief, said.

Carumba said the bridge, which connected Manay and Caraga towns, is impassable to motorists.

Police and disaster officials said they are continuously monitoring as moderate to occasionally
heavy rains continue to pelt parts of southern Mindanao.
Issue

The Philippines is highly exposed to natural hazards because it lies along the Pacific Typhoon
Belt and is within the Pacific Ring of Fire. This is compounded by uncontrolled settlement in
hazard-prone areas, high poverty rate, failure to implement building codes and construction
standards, and degradation of forests and coastal resources, among others.

The brunt of these natural hazards is felt by 27.6 million Filipinos who are among the poorest
and marginalized. They are often trapped in a seemingly never-ending cycle of disaster,
displacement and rebuilding.

For a country like the Philippines, a proactive risk management approach is imperative. More
than 40 per cent of Filipinos (37 million) are under 18. Children are the most affected in any
disaster; by this alone, their participation in DRR is essential.

Action

UNICEF has undertaken a study on children's vulnerabilities to climate change and disaster
impacts. It will establish models of child-centered disaster risk management for eventual
replication by local government units (LGUs), as a basis for integrating DRR in their local
development plans. Aside from bridging the gap between community-based activities and public
policy, UNICEF will also facilitate the partnership of non-government organizations with LGUs to
adopt child-sensitive and child-centered DRR and climate change adaptation (CCA) plans and
programs.

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) will be tapped to serve as catalysts, mobilizers and

organizers of child-centered DRR in communities and government. They will help build the
capacities of local NGOs and partner with LGUs and national agencies to develop child-
centered disaster risk management (DRM) programs and integrate them into local development
and emergency plans.

Impact

The DRR objective is consistent with the equity focus of UNICEF. Priority will be given to
hazard-prone areas, which are also usually the most economically impoverished and deprived.
Disasters contribute to a vicious cycle of poverty, preventing children from exercising their
rights; and families and communities from realizing their development potential. DRR helps in
directing activities where they are needed most. The modelling approach for community-based
and child-centred DRR and integration of DRR in LGU development plans will be done in areas
that are most exposed to climatological, geological and other hazards.
 Philippines: Earthquakes - Feb 2017
Overview
At 10:03 p.m. on 10 February 2017, a 6.7-magnitude earthquake with a depth of ten kilometres
and an epicenter located near Surigao City caused loss of lives and damage to properties in the
Caraga region, particularly in Surigao del Norte province. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology
and Seismology reported no tsunami threat but they predict aftershocks will continue for several
weeks. A Red Alert status has been raised by Caraga Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Council Operation Center. Surigao City declared state of calamity. (OCHA, 15 Feb
2017)

Based on updates issued by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council
(NDRRMC), eight people lost their lives as a result of the earthquake, with 202 injured. The
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has reported that 3,331 families
(16,655 people) have been displaced and are currently staying in open areas near their homes,
in tents or with host families. Many residents, including those whose houses were not damaged,
are apprehensive about returning to their homes because of aftershocks. (IFRC, 16 Feb 2017)

As of 24 February, a total of 6,472 families, or 32,360 persons, were affected in 82 barangays in

the province of Surigao del Norte. A total of 6,398 houses in Surigao del Norte were damaged,
including 518 that were totally damaged. (Govt. Philippines, 24 Feb 2017)

As of 2 March, over 7,800 people remain displaced by the earthquake. Most of them are staying
in open areas near their homes, or with relatives or friends. There were eight reported deaths,
three of which were children and two senior citizens, and 202 injuries. Over 7,200 houses are
reported to be damaged, of which 518 were destroyed. About 81 per cent of the damage is
located in Surigao City and the neighboring town of San Francisco. (OCHA, 2 Mar 2017)

On 5 March, a 5.9 magnitude tremor struck at a depth of 13 km near San Francisco municipality
(population 14,500 people), Surigao del Norte province. One death was reported and local
authorities are assessing the situation. This was reported as an aftershock of the 6.7 magnitude
earthquake which struck Surigao del Norte on 10 February. As of 3 March, more than 7,800
people remain displaced following the larger earthquake, with most staying in open areas near
their homes or with relatives or friends. (OCHA, 6 Mar 2017)

As of 11 March, the earthquakes had affected a total of 10,691 families, or 53,455 people, in 82
barangays in the Province of Surigao del Norte. Eight people were reported dead and 249
people sustained injuries due to the initial 6.7-magnitude earthquake as well as the 5 March
earthquake. (Govt. Philippines, 11 Mar 2017)

s
 6.3-magnitude earthquake hits Luzon

By: Frances G. Mangosing, Jhoanna Ballaran - @inquirerdotnet

INQUIRER.net / 01:36 PM August 11, 2017

(Updated, 2:53 p.m.) A 6.3-magnitude earthquake was recorded in Batangas Friday afternoon,
the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said
The quake struck 5 kilometers southwest of Lian town in Batangas at 1:28 p.m.

Phivolcs said the earthquake was tectonic in origin and has a depth of 173 kilometers.

Aftershocks are expected from the quake, Phivolcs said.

The quake was felt in the following areas:

Intensity IV Calapan, Mindoro; Subic, Zambales; Rosario, Cavite; Manila, Occidental Mindoro

Intensity III Pateros City; Quezon City; Makati City; Malolos, Bulacan; Cainta, Rizal; Calamba,
Laguna

Intensity IIMagalang, Pampanga; Tanauan City, Batangas

Intensity I Talisay, Batangas

Instrumental Intensities:

Intensity III Calumpay, San Ildefonso, Bulacan; Tagaytay City

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Intensity II Lucban, Quezon

The quake lasted for several seconds and was felt in the Philippine Daily Inquirer building in
Makati.