DND, OCD assess needs of massive flooding in MisOcc

by Shaine Mae Nagtalon

Cabinet members led by Department of National Defense (DND) Officer-in-Charge, Usec. Jose Calingasan Faustino Jr. and Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Administrator, Usec. Raymundo B. Ferrer together with the Provincial Government of Misamis Occidental headed by Governor Henry S. Oaminal and First Division Commander BGen Antonio Nafarrete conduct assessment and briefing on the extent of the damage brought about by massive flooding in MisOcc province. (SMRN/PIA-10/Misamis Occidental)

Department of National Defense (DND) Officer-in-Charge, Usec. Jose Calingasan Faustino Jr. and Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Administrator, Usec. Raymundo B. Ferrer together with Misamis Occidental Governor Henry S. Oaminal conducted an assessment and briefing on the extent of the damage brought about by massive flooding in MisOcc province.

During the briefing, Faustino assured Misamis Occidental Province of assistance from the national government, saying "Kaya kami pumunta dito sa guidance na rin ng ating Pangulo na kung ano yung maitutulong namin immediately. And we will activate and meet with other government agencies to help."

Faustino said to convene with the other agencies to help the province in terms of assistance of infrastructure from Department of Public Work and Highways (DPWH), agriculture from Department of Agriculture, Cash for work (TUPAD) and Integrated Livelihood Program (Kabuhayan) from Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and others.

Those with partially damaged houses will be provided with assistance while those whose houses were destroyed will be reassessed if they need to be relocated.

For his part, Governor Henry S. Oaminal gave the DND and OCD updates on the present condition of Misamis Occidental following the massive flooding that affected nine towns over the weekend.

As to the other needs of the evacuees, Governor Henry Oaminal provided food packs that they can take home if ever they want to go home and cash assistance for their basic needs of their home. "We are really doing our best to provide the needs of the people with their satisfaction and to the utmost satisfaction,” he said.

The local governments in the municipalities and cities are backed up by the provincial government on providing food, goods and other basic needs in the different evacuation centers and medical needs in the evacuation are also properly addressed.

In terms of agriculture and properties, the MisOcc LGU will be conducting a separate assessment.

The affected families in the province include towns of Oroquieta with 825 families or 6,000 individuals in the evacuation area, Aloran, 564 families or 1821 individuals, Panaon town, 151 families or 541 individuals, Jimenez, 1532 families or 6447 individuals, Sincaban, 303 families or 1247 individuals, Tudela, 759 families or 3,380 individuals.

Meanwhile, Clarin, 550 families or 2288 individuals and Ozamiz, 45 families or 142 individuals. For Lopez Jaena, 421 families or 1757 individuals, Plaridel, 182 families or 728 individuals and lastly for Baliangao, 5 families or 22 individuals.

Governor Henry S. Oaminal reported that some 5,116 families or 23, 937 individuals who are affected are now in the different evacuation centers in the province. The province reported 17 deaths from Aloran (5), Oroquieta (5), Jimenez (3), Tudela (1), Clarin (3) as of Wednesday, December 28.

The Cabinet secretary commended the actions taken by the provincial government and the PDRRM Council in swift pre-emptive evacuation.

The Cabinet secretary also met with the local officials of MisOcc province to address their concerns.(SMRN/PIA-10/Misamis Occidental)