Heavy rain causes damages to government projects, farms, houses in Tboli

The downpour of rain in the evening of June 23 which lasted for almost 24 hours has caused damages to barangay roads, agricultural crops, houses and even to the on-going construction of farm-to-market roads under the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayaman or PAMANA, according to the initial Damage Assessment and Need Analysis (DANA) report submitted by the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) to the office of the Municipal Mayor, dated June 25, 2015.

In the said report, Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer at the same time MDRRM Officer Designate Thelma Gedoria mentioned that the heavy and long rain has wrecked havoc to some access roads to the barangays.

In Barangay New Dumangas, the DANA team accounted for slight damages on some roads, while the foot bridge connecting Sitio Halo in New Dumangas and Barangay Halilan in Lake Sebu has been seen showing instability to withstand more volume of water in Allah river.

It also indicated that water current in Gao river is relatively normal while Allah river is obviously strong as serving catchments to several water tributaries.

Meanwhile, the road that links barangay Sinolon and Lamhaku has also been devastated.

The report further disclosed that several parcel of farm lots near the river banks in Talufo have been eroded, some of which have been planted with rice and corn that are on vegetative stage. Additionally, a couple of landslide incidents along the road from Talufo going to Lambuling have been documented. With the on-going construction of PAMANA road concreting in the area, some heavy equipment of the local government of Tboli immediately responded to do road repair.

Gedoria likewise reported two houses made of light materials were damaged by a landslide in Lambuling while six families have been urged to evacuate their houses due to another possible landslide.

In Blaan area, however, Malugong Central Elementary School covered court has been filled with eroded soil from the nearby hill.

Barangay Edwards also accounts for damages of over a hundred hills of bamboos planted in the riparian zones along the Safali river.

As of press time, the DANA team is currently doing assessment and monitoring activities in other barangays, particularly in the Blaan area.

by Bary L. Lugan

photos by: Tboli MDRRMO