DAVAO CITY – Majority of the 8,000 families in areas badly hit by Davao flood due to tropical storm “Vinta” remain without electricity and continue to experience the low volume of water as restoration works are still ongoing.
Rodger Velasco, EVP-COO of Davao Light and Power Company (DLPC), said Davao Light has restored the electricity connection to 32 percent of the 8,000 families living in badly-hit Jade Valley, San Antonio Bacaca, Waan, and Tamugan.
As of Wednesday, Davao Light already restored electricity in five areas including Purok 5 in Dujali town, Davao del Norte.
Velasco said it took longer for the Davao Light team to restore the connection because the electricity meters of the houses were full of mud and wires were wet posing danger to the safety of the residents. He said Davao Light team is also facing a hard time moving into the areas particularly in Gem and Jade Valley.
Velasco hoped Davao Light would restore power to all affected families by Friday.
Davao Light has been restoring wet electricity meters since December 23. It has also prioritized streetlights to provide illumination in some areas.
Mark Valencia, VP for Engineering of Davao Light, said that while restoration is ongoing their priority is always to ensure the safety of their customers.
With restoration meters service is free, for now, Valencia said the customers need to clean their homes of mud so that Davao Light could do all the restoration works immediately.
Ross Luga, Corporate Communications Officer of Davao Light, stressed that in order to fast track the electricity supply in the affected areas, customers are advised to ensure that the convenience outlets and main switch/breaker system are clean and dry and allow a competent electrician inspect the internal house wiring.
Meanwhile, Davao City Water District (DCWD) spokesman lawyer Bernard Delima said DCWD is hoping to increase the volume of water, especially in El Rio area.
He said DCWD would be beefing up two reservoirs in the Robinsons area. “Hopefully this will translate to more volume of water,” Delima said.
City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management operations officer, Rodrigo Bustillo said some of the families had already returned home.
On Monday, the city council declared the city under a state of calamity and authorized Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio to use the remaining PHP83.4 million Quick Response Fund (QRF), which is 30 percent of the city’s Disaster Risk Reduction Management fund.
There are 20,000 families in 25 barangays were affected by flood in Davao City when Davao River overflowed to several barangays from Buda down to the city proper.
Of the total number of affected families, 357 families lost their homes totally; the houses of 333 families were partially damaged, and 19,310 affected.
The mayor said the money would be used for the financial assistance, relief operations on December 23, 24, 25 and December 30 and 31, and the medical needs of the flood victims.
Of the P83.4 million QRF, the city allocates PHP3.57 million for cash assistance of the families with totally damaged houses (PHP10,000 each family); PHP1.66 million for families with partially damaged houses (PHP5,000 each family); PHP57.93 million for affected families (PHP3,000 each family); PHP16.73 million for food assistance (PHP836.75 for 4 days each family); PHP2 million for medicines; and PHP1.5 million for non-food items.
Duterte-Carpio said the donations would also be given on December 30 – 31 in time for the New Year. (Lilian Mellejor/PNA)
