Davao City remembers 31 casualties of flashfloods in 2011 in simple rites
Published Jun 30, 2018 05:08 pm
By Yas Ocampo
DAVAO CITY -- Davao City remembered the 31 casualties of flashflood seven years ago in simple ceremonies earlier this week.
City Hall of Davao (RENE B. LUMAWAG|MANILA BULLETIN)
The incident occurred in June 28, 2011, as heavy rains displaced 13,000 families in five barangays in the Talomo District.
Speaking to residents and barangay officials, Mayor Sara Duterte insisted to the communities located in hazard-prone areas to always heed the warnings of authorities tasked to call for preemptive evacuations.
“We need to do this to remind the people that when the rescue teams advise them to evacuate, they should do what they are told and not to question the advice of the rescue teams instead,” the mayor said.
Throughout the years, the barangays near the area have been given various upgrades, such as a siren system and a very active barangay monitoring system.
“They know what amount of water can cause flashflood, they know the situation in the mountain so they have a reason why they advise people to evacuate even if there is no rain in the city,” Mayor Duterte said.
She noted that since the incident took place, the Barangay rescue teams got stronger and have been serving as first responders in the communities.
“Our Barangay rescue teams got stronger after the incident. (The flood) also served a lesson for our Central 911 and other agencies. Now, we have a smoother coordination between the Central 911 and the barangay rescue teams,” Mayor Duterte said.
Local governments have since employed more data-based decisions regarding disasters such as flashfloods.
According to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), LGUs have become more proactive in the use and application of science-based tools to help make decisions regarding disasters.
Undersecretary Brenda Nazareth-Manzano, who heads regional operations at the DOST, said the agency has seen an increased partnership among LGUs and the science agency.
In Davao City, for example, the city's Central 911 responders rely on both devices such as rainfall gauges and other weather data-collecting instruments, as well as firsthand observations by roving barangay officials every time heavy rains threaten properties.
"LGUs are more responsive to tools now," Manzano said, speaking to reporters on Friday's Connect Science, Health and Wellness Forum.
The city government still provides financial and scholarship assistance to the children of those who perished in the floods.
City Hall of Davao (RENE B. LUMAWAG|MANILA BULLETIN)
The incident occurred in June 28, 2011, as heavy rains displaced 13,000 families in five barangays in the Talomo District.
Speaking to residents and barangay officials, Mayor Sara Duterte insisted to the communities located in hazard-prone areas to always heed the warnings of authorities tasked to call for preemptive evacuations.
“We need to do this to remind the people that when the rescue teams advise them to evacuate, they should do what they are told and not to question the advice of the rescue teams instead,” the mayor said.
Throughout the years, the barangays near the area have been given various upgrades, such as a siren system and a very active barangay monitoring system.
“They know what amount of water can cause flashflood, they know the situation in the mountain so they have a reason why they advise people to evacuate even if there is no rain in the city,” Mayor Duterte said.
She noted that since the incident took place, the Barangay rescue teams got stronger and have been serving as first responders in the communities.
“Our Barangay rescue teams got stronger after the incident. (The flood) also served a lesson for our Central 911 and other agencies. Now, we have a smoother coordination between the Central 911 and the barangay rescue teams,” Mayor Duterte said.
Local governments have since employed more data-based decisions regarding disasters such as flashfloods.
According to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), LGUs have become more proactive in the use and application of science-based tools to help make decisions regarding disasters.
Undersecretary Brenda Nazareth-Manzano, who heads regional operations at the DOST, said the agency has seen an increased partnership among LGUs and the science agency.
In Davao City, for example, the city's Central 911 responders rely on both devices such as rainfall gauges and other weather data-collecting instruments, as well as firsthand observations by roving barangay officials every time heavy rains threaten properties.
"LGUs are more responsive to tools now," Manzano said, speaking to reporters on Friday's Connect Science, Health and Wellness Forum.
The city government still provides financial and scholarship assistance to the children of those who perished in the floods.