OCD-Davao advocates for community fire brigades
AN OFFICIAL from the Office of Civil Defense-Davao Region (OCD-Davao) underscored the necessity of establishing community fire brigades as part of their community intervention strategy......»»
Shear line affects over 80-K families in Davao
The shear line in the Davao Region has had a significant impact on over 80,000 families, as reported by the Office of Civil Defense-Davao Region (OCD-Davao). The affected families are spread across Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao Occidental, and Davao Oriental. Evacuation efforts have been underway, with some families still in shelters. Tragically, casualties have been reported, including fatalities and injuries due to landslides and flooding. The infrastructure has also suffered, with roads and bridges being blocked or damaged. The Department of Social Welfare and Development-Davao Region (DSWD-Davao) has been providing relief to affected residents, and the local government units have also contributed aid. In response to the shear line, the OCD-Davao has raised its Blue Alert status, emphasizing the need for intensified monitoring and immediate mobilization of resources. The situation remains challenging, with ongoing flooding and landslides affecting numerous areas in the region......»»
95 areas in Davao Region still grapple with flooding
Ninety-five areas in the Davao Region continue to grapple with flooding, as reported by the Office of Civil Defense-Davao Region (OCD-Davao). Davao del Norte has the highest number of flooded areas, with 64 barangays affected, followed by Davao Oriental with 22, and Davao de Oro with nine. The region has also experienced over 50 landslides, with Davao de Oro leading with 44 incidents and eight in Davao Oriental. Tragically, a significant landslide in Monkayo, Davao de Oro resulted in nine confirmed deaths, one critical injury, and four individuals still under search and rescue operations. Davao City also recorded casualties due to heavy rains. The adverse weather conditions have affected thousands of individuals and displaced over 4,000 families in evacuation centers. The Department of Social Welfare and Development-Davao Region (DSWD-Davao) has provided assistance to the affected families. The heavy rainfall is attributed to a weather system known as a shear line, causing widespread impact in the Visayas and Mindanao areas......»»
P3-M damage reported in school building fire
The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) reported a devastating fire at F. Bustamante National High School in Tibungco, Davao City, on January 14, causing an estimated P3 million in damages. The fire affected 14 rooms, with nine being totally damaged and one partially damaged. The Bureau of Fire Protection-Davao (BFP-Davao) struggled to contain the blaze, which lasted for two hours. Fortunately, there were no reported casualties or houses affected despite the school's proximity to a residential area. Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing. This incident adds to a series of school fires in the region, with three state-owned schools destroyed in 2023. The BFP-Davao and Team Davao Rescue have responded to over 15 fire incidents in the first and second weeks of January 2024, indicating a significant increase compared to the same period in 2023......»»
5 dead, 2 missing in Davao de Oro floods
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 02 February) – The Office of Civil Defense (OCD)-Davao reported five persons were confirmed dead while two others were still missing due to flooding and landslides in Davao de Oro province. During Kapihan sa Philippine Information Agency (PIA) on Friday, OCD-Davao director Ednar G. Dayanghirang also said seven persons were injured […].....»»
Groups urge to include placemaking in planning for public spaces
The push for placemaking in planning for public spaces was emphasized by various groups during a recent forum in Davao City. ATTY. Mark Peñalver, executive director of Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (Idis), stressed the importance of incorporating placemaking in public space planning to not only enhance the physical environment but also to promote inclusivity. He highlighted the exclusion of certain sectors in existing public spaces and emphasized the need for stakeholders' input and acknowledgment of their stories in the planning process. Dr. Derlie Mateo-Babiano, an associate professor in Urban Planning Assistant, described placemaking as a means to transform places into spaces that people will cherish. She emphasized the significance of engaging the community in the planning process to understand their cultural, environmental, and other needs. Peñalver also cited a successful placemaking project in Davao Executive Homes, which catered to children, the elderly, and individuals with special needs, demonstrating the positive impact of placemaking. Furthermore, Peñalver advocated for the institutionalization of placemaking in the Comprehensive Land Use Plan and other development plans in Davao City. He highlighted the potential of placemaking to ensure that government projects are beneficial to the community. Architect Harold Delima, co-convenor of Placemaking Davao, discussed ongoing workshops with various demographics to integrate placemaking into the city's development. The groups involved are hopeful that placemaking will become a fundamental aspect of public space planning in Davao City, aiming to create inclusive and community-centered environments......»»
Floods displace 83,000 families in Davao Region
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 19 January) – Floods brought by heavy rains due to a shear line have uprooted a total of 83,158 families or 349,183 individuals in Davao Region, according to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) regional office. OCD-Davao Region spokesperson Franz Irag said that as of Friday, 3,648 families or 14,685 individuals […].....»»
DPWH tallies 268 gov’t and school buildings partially destroyed in Hinatuan quake
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Davao Region reported that a total of 268 school and national government buildings were partially destroyed by the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur on December 2. The estimated damage amounted to P108,497,894.84 for school buildings and P1,899,365.60 for national government buildings. The damages included cracks on walls and falling debris such as ceilings. According to Engr. Alexander Turingan of DPWH XI, there were no reported damages in Davao Occidental and Davao del Sur. Franz Irag, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) XI operations head, emphasized the importance of addressing damages to school buildings, which also serve as evacuation centers during calamities. Dean Ortiz, spokesperson of DPWH XI, highlighted the agency's focus on national roads and bridges, clarifying that they will respond to requests to inspect private and government buildings. Architect Kashagar Toghyani, officer-in-charge of the Office City Building Official (OCBO) of Davao City, urged private building owners to promptly engage professional engineers to assess structural integrity, especially for buildings housing more than 10 individuals. He emphasized the necessity of fire inspections and transparency with building occupants to ensure their safety. The recent earthquakes did not affect government buildings in the Davao Region, and DPWH is committed to conducting thorough assessments and ensuring the safety of buildings and their occupants in the aftermath of the quake......»»
OCD 11’s regional dialogue elevates to national level
AN OFFICIAL from the Office of Civil Defense-Davao Region (OCD-Davao) announced that its regional dialogue has been upgraded to a national dialogue......»»
House fire kills 5 in Philippines
MANILA, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- A house fire has killed a family of five, including an 11-month-old baby, in Daraga town in Albay province, southeast of the Philippines' capital Manila, authorities said Wednesday. Municipal Fire Marshal Amor Laguilles of Daraga town fire station said the fire broke out around 8:00 p.m. local time on Tuesday, burning the whole house to the ground. He said the fire quickly burn.....»»
House fire kills 5 in Philippines
MANILA, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- A house fire has killed a family of five, including an 11-month-old baby, in Daraga town in Albay province, southeast of the Philippines' capital Manila, authorities said Wednesday. Municipal Fire Marshal Amor Laguilles of Daraga town fire station said the fire broke out around 8:00 p.m. local time on Tuesday, burning the whole house to the ground. He said the fire quickly burn.....»»
LPA affects 394 families in Davao de Oro, Davao Oriental
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 31 January)— A total of 394 families or 1,411 individuals in the provinces of Davao de Oro and Davao Oriental have been affected by the trough of the low pressure area (LPA) which brings in rains in several parts of Mindanao, according to the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD)-Davao. Franz […].....»»
Over 600-K affected by shear line in Davao
Over 600,000 people in Davao Region were affected by a shear line, causing unprecedented damage and extensive flooding and landslides. The regional director of the Office of Civil Defense-Davao Region emphasized the need to address these issues and called for collaboration to prevent future disasters. The agriculture sector suffered over P50 million in damages, while infrastructure incurred around P25 million in damages. The report also highlighted the impact on road sections, bridges, and houses, with significant assistance provided by OCD-Davao. Plans are underway for a region-wide flooding dialogue and realignment of projects with disaster prevention efforts in collaboration with the Department of Public Works and Highways. Related stories include urging proactive measures in establishing disaster services at barangays and the expedited release of aid for Davao disaster victims......»»
Mati City, 10 municipalities in Davao Oriental suspend classes, work
Following the impact of a Low-Pressure Area (LPA) affecting Northern and Southern Mindanao, local government units (LGUs) in Davao Oriental have collectively suspended classes and government and private offices. The City of Mati and 10 municipalities, including Baganga, Governor Generoso, Cateel, and others, have issued Executive Orders in line with Presidential Executive Order No. 66, series of 2012. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) has forecasted moderate to heavy rains in Davao Oriental due to the Northeast Monsoon (Amihan) and LPA, posing a risk of landslides and flash floods. The Provincial Local Government Unit of Davao Oriental and Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Councils have reported landslides in Lupon and Cateel, with ongoing clearing operations. The Bureau of Fire Protection and other government agencies have rescued families affected by flash floods in Cateel and Caraga. Franz Irag from the Office of Civil Defense-Davao Region confirmed that around 200 individuals or close to 500 families in Davao Region have been displaced and are now in evacuation centers. Additionally, five LGUs in the province of Davao de Oro have also declared the suspension of classes and work in both public and private offices......»»
Pre-dawn fire in Philippine capital kills 1
MANILA, March 30 (Xinhua) -- A 59-year-old man died in a pre-dawn fire that gutted a house in the Philippine capital Manila on Saturday, a firefighter officer said. Ronaldo Sanchez, marshal at Navotas City Fire Station, said the fire broke out at around 3 a.m. local time and trapped the victim on the second floor of the three-story house. Sanchez added that the victim was fast asleep when the fire spread,.....»»
Guadalupe fire: Unattended cooking, electrical short circuit eyed as possible causes
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Fire investigators are considering unattended cooking and electrical short circuit as the possible causes of the fire that broke out in a roadside home in Brgy. Guadalupe, Cebu City on Thursday. Senior Fire Officer 2 (SFO2) Wendell Villanueva, the public information officer of the Cebu City Fire Station (CCFS), said they.....»»
BFP-Mandaue reminds public to be fire-conscious
MANDAUE CITY, Philippines – The Bureau of Fire Protection in Mandaue City (BFP-Mandaue) is reminding residents to be fire-conscious during the opening of Fire Prevention Month in the city on Friday, March 1. BFP-Mandaue Fire Marshal Chief Inspector Arnel Abella said that fires recorded in the city usually involve electric wires, unattended cooking, and failure.....»»
Barili fire destroys 5 fruit stalls outside town’s public market
CEBU CITY, Philippines — An evening fire destroyed five fruit stalls outside the Barili Public Market in Barangay Poblacion, Barili town in southwestern Cebu at past 8 p.m. today, Friday, January 12. According to Fire Officer 1 (FO1) Kim Miñoza, investigator of the Barili Fire Station, in a report, that the fire was reported at.....»»
Uncertainty looms over Davao-Samal Bridge project amid RoW hurdles
The construction of the Samal Island-Davao City Connector (SIDC), also known as the Davao-Samal Bridge project, has faced numerous setbacks due to right-of-way (ROW) acquisition challenges. The project was halted on January 3, 2024, due to issues with landowners near a pier in Lanang at Davao City, leading to delays in the project's implementation. While there have been conflicting statements regarding the project's status, the National Economic and Development Authority-Davao Region (Neda-Davao) aims to complete the detailed engineering plans for the substructure of the west land via dock once the Deed of Transfer Possession in Davao City is released. However, ROW issues continue to persist. Despite these challenges, the project is still considered a priority and is included in the Davao Region Development Plan (DRDP) for 2023–2028. The project is funded through China’s Official Development Assistance with an estimated budget of P23.04 billion, and negotiations with the Philippine government are ongoing with a target completion date in 2027. The uncertainty surrounding the project's timeline remains as ROW hurdles persist, impacting the much-anticipated toll-free four-lane concrete exodus bridge spanning a 3.98-kilometer distance......»»
Bucana fire damages house and 3 establishments
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 18 February) – One house and three establishments were destroyed by fire in Barangay 76-A Bucana Davao City at 3:30 a.m. on Sunday. Capt. Hazel Tuazon, spokesperson for Davao City Police Office (DCPO), said the fire started from the two-story house of Michelle Bolos, a 43-year-old businesswoman, and immediately spread to adjacent establishments. […].....»»
Building code compliance pivotal in earthquake preparedness – OCD
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) stressed that preparedness is always the best solution in saving lives from devastating earthquakes. .....»»