Davao City flooding displaces hundreds, erodes bridge approach

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 05 January) – Hundreds of residents were forced to evacuate and the approach of a bridge in Barangay Matina Pangi, this city, eroded due to the heavy floods caused by the localized thunderstorm on Saturday evening.

On its social media account, the Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (BDRRMC) announced on Sunday that Bridge 9 along Kilometer 9, Matina Pangi, would only be passable to light vehicles after its structural stability had been compromised.

_{A Bridge located along Kilometer 9 of Matina Pangi Road in Purok 9, Barangay Matina Pangi was damaged by strong floods caused by the localized thunderstorm in Davao City on Saturday. (Photo courtesy of Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office of Barangay Matina Pangi)}

At 7:07 p.m. on Saturday, the Matina River was monitored at code red or critical level, prompting the Davao City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) to enforce mandatory evacuations for families living in Barangays Matina Pangi, Matina Crossing, and Matina Aplaya.

As of 4 p.m. on Sunday, the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD)-Davao and CDRRMO have yet to respond to requests for details on the number of families evacuated and areas flooded in the city.

Dean Ortiz, information officer of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Davao, told MindaNews that the bridge project is nearing completion. But vehicles have been allowed to pass. 

Ortiz said the remaining civil works are being done on the approaches to the bridge. He assured the public that once the construction is complete, the bridge would be safe to use because the floods only affected the bridge and not the structure itself.

Ortiz stated that debris removal is ongoing while a detour bridge is being constructed for vehicles.

When asked about the project’s budget, start of construction, and target completion, Ortiz said he was still traveling back to Davao City and would provide the details later. 

A press release issued by the City Government of Davao said the heavy downpour also caused street flooding in some parts of the city, including in Barangays Matina Pangi, Matina Crossing, and Matina Aplaya.

The rescue teams, volunteer groups, and members of the city’s emergency response clusters were deployed to assist affected residents to designated evacuation centers, while hot meals and medical services were provided to evacuated residents. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)