DavNor distributes relief to flood victims

by Noel Baguio/DavNor PIO

Davao del Norte – The provincial government of Davao del Norte started giving out family food packs and other relief items to the victims of flooding caused by Tropical Depression Zoraida.

Governor Rodolfo del Rosario ordered Thursday the release of relief goods to some 1,273 families in B.E. Dujali town, who were affected by flashfloods.

The assistance from the province augmented the aid that was given earlier by the municipal government of B.E. Dujali.

As of 5:30 pm Wednesday, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) reported that a total of 2,032 families were affected by flooding in six local government units of the province.

Many of the 1,069 families that were evacuated to various evacuation centers have also returned home.

Initial reports have placed the total damage to crops and properties at about P20 million.

However, as of 3 pm Thursday, the search and retrieval operations are still on-going to find the bodies of 22-year old Ben Banhaw from Tanglaw, B.E. Dujali and 20-year old Dowen Anito of Sampao, Kapalong town, who went missing Tuesday afternoon.

Banhaw disappeared in raging floodwaters while trying to salvage driftwoods, while Anito vanished when he carelessly swam across rampaging floods.

Dujali Mayor Lolita Moral personally oversaw the SAR operations of the composite RDR rescue team and BEDERS responders in sweeping the over 20-kilometer stretch from the Panaga River in Tanglaw, B.E. Dujali up to the estuary of the Tuganay River in La Paz, Carmen, Davao del Norte in order to find Banhaw.

Rescuers and residents help mount the PDRRMC rubber boat at the estuary of the Tuganay River at La Paz, Carmen, Davao del Norte for the SAR operation to find 22-year old Ben Banhaw, who disappeared while salvaging driftwoods in the raging floodwaters of Panaga River some 20 kilometers upstream. noel baguio/davnor pio

Mayor Lolita Moral, center, oversees the SAR operations of the composite RDR rescue team and BEDERS responders to find Ben Banhaw, who disappeared while salvaging driftwoods at the Panaga River in Tanglaw, B.E. Dujali, Davao del Norte. noel baguio/davnor pio

Residents of Tanglaw, Dujali, Davao del Norte invoke divine intervention before the start of the search and retrieval operation to find 22-year old Ben Banhaw, who disappeared while salvaging driftwoods at the Panaga River. noel baguio/davnor pio

Rescuers on board the PDRRMC rubber boat sweep the estuary of the Tuganay River at La Paz, Carmen, Davao del Norte to find 22-year old Ben Banhaw, who disappeared while salvaging driftwoods in the raging floodwaters of Panaga River some 20 kilometers upstream. noel baguio/davnor pio

The RDR rescue team were joined by some residents in sweeping the Panaga River in Tanglaw, B.E. Dujali, Davao del Norte to find 22-year old Ben Banhaw, who disappeared while salvaging driftwoods in raging floodwaters. noel baguio/davnor pio