Flood in Carmen, Davao del Norte

On Thursday, Novemer 10, while we were on our way to Davao Oriental, we notice the flooded vacant lot in Carmen, Davao del Norte. We thought it was just in that area. But about 300 meters away from the town hall, we saw some people on board the makeshift water rafts wading through the flooded streets. Most of the houses along the hiway were partly submerged, too.

Ruby and I took few shots. Several displaced residents told us that they evacuated on Wednesday evening when the water started to rise at 7pm. According to them, the flood started to on Wednesday morning after the heavy rains on Tuesday evening.

They admitted that it was not the first time that flood hit their village. In the past, they have been experiencing flood but only up to their waist level. But this time, the flood reached up their chest level. This time, they had to evacuate to safer grounds.

Sign of Times….

Is this the sign of times?  Sea water level rise is evident here at Sta. Ana wharf in Davao City. Experts blame the ice melt from arctic glaciers as the primary cause of sea water level rise.

Disaster Preparedness: Failure

Days after Ondoy hit Metro Manila and other parts of the Luzon, I have’t heard any “big” news on government’s effort to extend aid to the victims of the typhoon’s wrath. Instead, it’s the support from the private sector is overwhelming than from those who should really provide.

Millions of pesos have been spent in foreign trips and even in provincial sorties of the President but why the government cannot allocate some funds for ‘disaster preparedness’ since Philippines is in the typhoon belt?  And the typhoons are getting worst. If the government can afford to charter some choppers for the Presidential visits in the provinces, why it cannot afford to buy a new one for the NDCC? Or why it did not initiate to hire choppers to rescue flood victims on the first day or second day of the tragedy?

The Palace has earlier made a ‘gimmickry’ by opening the gates of the Palace for relief operations and even as temporary shelters. But now they are taking it back?! Such a shame.

Also, Arroyo and her Cabinet would extend financial help by donating their two-month salaries. Naunahan na kayo  ni Mayor Duterte! Gaya-gaya? Sabagay, better late than nothing at all!

Also read:

The Manila Floods: Why Wasn’t the City Prepared?

Climate is changing

Whew, look what’s happening in Cagayan De Oro City. I remember the days in 2001 and 2002  when I was assigned by Cyberdyaryo to do a story on the anti-illegal logging campaign of Task Force Macajalar in CDO. They put up a barricade near Xavier’s College of Agriculture and also near the location SM now.

I also recalled the denial of the DENR official of Region 10 that there was an illegal logging activities in his region. I was then a greenhorn reporter who set an interview to that official and ended up being scolded while denying that there were illegal logging activities in his region.

So, look at CDO now, it’s like a waterworld.