CARMEN, Davao del Norte, Philippines (PNA) – Intermittent rains and floods in nine barangays (villages) in this municipality resulted in the suspension of classes in an elementary school here, while other schools are now holding classes at the Carmen Municipal Gymnasium during the nationwide opening of public schools on Monday.

Davao del Norte Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Aurora Cubero said classes at the Barangay Mabaos Elementary School have been suspended as the Tuganay River has overflowed due to heavy downpour of rain Sunday night.
Cubero said the school is inundated and children are having difficulty in reaching the school.

Pupils in nine classes of Grades 4, 5, and 6 of Carmen Central Elementary Schools located in Barangay Ising are attending their classes at the Carmen Municipal Gymnasium as their classrooms have been swamped with floodwaters from Ising River.

The Carmen National High School is also flooded but teachers are utilizing the school canteen, school laboratories, and other facilities that have not been flooded, to hold their classes, she said.

Mayor Marcelino Perandos said Carmen lies along the Tuganay and Ising Rivers, the waters of which flow from the upland towns of the province.

“It has been raining almost every night since May 20. It has also been raining in the uplands, so waters flow to Carmen which is a low-lying area,” Perandos said.

As this developed, he appealed to parents and students especially those who are holding class at the municipal gym to bear the situation while floodwaters have yet to subside.

He also made an appeal to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) to augment the relief operation of the municipal government which is now prioritizing severely affected families.

The flashfloods affected some 1,500 families, taking a heavy toll on ricelands which are now on seeding stage, as well as damaging some access roads and river-dikes.

Since Monday morning, the municipal government has been distributing relief goods consisting of five kilos of rice, three cans of sardines, and three packs of noodles per family.

“This is just for immediate relief for affected families. We are asking for more relief goods and rice seeds,” he said.

He said Mabaos is one of the nine Carmen villages that have been flooded due to intermittent rains which the town has been experiencing since late last month.

Other affected villages of Carmen are Salvacion, Guadalupe, San Isidro, Alejal, Ising, Mangalkal, Asuncion, and New Camiling.