DAVAO CITY — More than 100 families received relief assistance from the offices of Davao City First District Rep. Paolo Duterte and Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte II on Tuesday, May 19, after flash floods triggered by prolonged heavy rains displaced affected families across several communities in Davao City.
Teams from the “Pulong-Pulong ni Pulong” program were immediately deployed overnight to flood- and landslide-hit communities to conduct relief and monitoring operations, particularly in Barangay Catalunan Grande, where at least three families were directly affected by a landslide incident.
Volunteers and responders distributed hot porridge, food packs, bottled water, ready-to-eat meals, blankets, and other emergency supplies to displaced residents, especially children, senior citizens, and families temporarily staying in evacuation centers.
Heavy rains that poured over the city from Monday evening to Tuesday dawn for nearly five hours caused rivers and creeks to overflow, inundating low-lying areas and forcing residents to evacuate from flood-prone communities, including Matina Pangi, Matina Crossing, Bangkal, Bunawan, Buhangin, Catalunan Grande, Maa, and nearby riverside areas.
The flooding was brought by the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and easterlies affecting parts of Southern Mindanao, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.
In a general flood advisory issued Tuesday morning, the weather bureau warned that light to moderate rains and thunderstorms would continue across the Davao Region, raising concerns over possible flooding and flash floods along several river systems, including the Davao, Lasang, Bunawan, Matina, Talomo, Lipadas, and Digos rivers.
The advisory urged residents living near mountain slopes and low-lying communities along river systems to remain alert for possible flash floods and rising water levels.
By around 5 a.m. Tuesday, the Davao City government suspended face-to-face classes at all levels in both public and private schools. It halted work in government offices, except for personnel involved in safety, health, social services, disaster response, and emergency operations.
City authorities said the suspension was intended to prioritize clearing operations and ensure public safety amid overnight flooding that affected several communities.
Initial reports from the Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council showed that more than 200 families were evacuated in Matina Pangi alone after the Matina River reached critical levels and overflowed into nearby residential areas.
Floodwaters reportedly rose rapidly around midnight in Matina Pangi and neighboring communities, then gradually subsided before dawn, although authorities continued monitoring rivers that remained at critical levels.
The office of Rep. Duterte also distributed PZD Kits containing emergency necessities such as bread, coffee, baby supplies, diapers, milk, hygiene kits, and other essentials intended for infants and young children affected by the flooding in Matina Pangi.
According to the Duterte father-and-son, the immediate relief response aimed to ensure that vulnerable residents received urgent assistance while waiting for floodwaters to recede and conditions to stabilize.
While some residents later returned to their homes after floodwaters subsided, several families opted to remain temporarily in barangay evacuation centers or seek shelter with relatives.
In Bangkal, displaced residents took temporary refuge at the Our Lady of Lourdes Parish.
Several eateries, sari-sari stores, and roadside businesses in Matina Pangi also temporarily suspended operations after muddy floodwaters submerged appliances, merchandise, and equipment overnight.
Residents and business owners began clearing mud, debris, and damaged belongings on Tuesday as local authorities and response teams continued to monitor affected communities and assist with recovery operations.
Some small business operators reported losses involving appliances, supplies, and equipment after floodwaters entered commercial establishments overnight.
Residents in flood-prone communities also renewed calls for long-term flood mitigation measures, saying that recurring flooding continues to affect homes, livelihoods, and small businesses that depend on daily operations.
As flooding spread across parts of the city, power interruptions affected several barangays after electrical lines serving flooded areas were temporarily de-energized to ensure public safety and prevent damage to facilities.
Davao Light and Power Company said restoration teams were deployed to restore electricity in affected communities while safety inspections and line assessments were ongoing.
Power was gradually restored Tuesday in portions of Matina Pangi, Tulip Drive, Jade Valley, Juliville, Mandug Marquella, Palos Verdes, Bangkal, and Catalunan Grande. However, some lines remained isolated pending safety clearance.
Rep. Duterte and Vice Mayor Duterte assured affected communities that relief distribution, monitoring, and emergency assistance operations would continue as intermittent rains and unstable weather conditions persisted in several parts of the city.
The two officials also emphasized the importance of rapid disaster response, close coordination with rescue teams and barangay officials, and strengthening long-term community preparedness measures in vulnerable flood-prone areas.
Meanwhile, a 21-year-old man died in Buhangin early Tuesday morning after he was found submerged in floodwaters.
Police identified the victim as a pump boy and a native of Manay, Davao Oriental, who had been renting a house in Davao City.
Authorities said responders were conducting monitoring operations in flooded communities when they received reports about a man floating in floodwaters in front of his rented residence.
Rescuers attempted to revive the victim and rushed him to the Southern Philippines Medical Center, where he was later declared dead.
Initial medical findings indicated that the victim died from accidental electrocution and drowning after being submerged in floodwaters.
Meanwhile, a bridge connecting Barangay Mandug and Barangay Callawa here collapsed due to heavy rains on May 18. Government authorities are now working to address the situation.
The Davao City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office reported moderate to heavy rainfall in portions of Marilog, Calinan, and Baguio District.
Light rains continued in parts of Tugbok and Talomo Districts. Other areas of Davao City were experiencing partly cloudy to cloudy skies.(By Ivy Tejano)
