Government agencies and NGOs rush to help

The President personally saw the sad plight of the victims, who were fighting for space at evacuation centers.

Mortuaries have been unable to cope and authorities have started digging mass graves to bury victims.

Cagayan de Oro and Iligan are struggling to prevent disease from spreading in crowded evacuation centers and have started mass burial of decomposing bodies.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) said it had warned authorities in the area last year about the need to relocate families living along riverbanks that swelled after one month’s worth of rainfall fell over the weekend.

“This tragedy that happened in Cagayan de Oro will be repeated in the future. And therefore, there needs to be appropriate preparation to prevent fatalities,” Leo Jasareno, acting director of the MGB, said.

The President ordered authorities to make sure that those who are still missing are all accounted for.

“My concern right now is the missing. Let us exhaust all possible means to try and find all of the missing individuals. The Cabinet has been given instructions specific of their respective areas of concern and responsibility,” he said.

He also called on the people living in danger areas not to return and that both national and local officials would have to ensure permanent relocation.

Vice President Jejomar Binay, in the meantime, urged the Filipino people to give aid to the victims of flashfloods.

“Our kababayans (countrymen) in Cagayan de Oro City and Iligan City are in dire need of our help. Donations, whether in cash or in kind, would go a long way towards easing their suffering,” he said.

Binay earlier personally distributed 2,880 bags of relief goods to Kagay-anons staying at the evacuation centers in Macasandig, City Central Elementary School and West City Elementary School.

He also ordered the Office of the Vice President to distribute 5,000 bags of relief goods to victims in Iligan City, 5,000 to Dumaguete City and another 10,000 bags to Cagayan de Oro, which will be available on Dec. 22..

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has sent a two-ton water purifier and a 19-man relief team to Iligan City.

MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino said the team will be ferried by the Philippine Navy and will be spending Christmas day in Iligan City.

The relief team will be composed of personnel from the MMDA’s Road Emergency Group and will include trained rescue personnel, paramedics and two mechanics.

“These personnel are experienced. They were also at Calumpit and Hagonoy after typhoons ‘Quiel’ and “Pedring’,” said Tolentino.

“One of the most urgent needs of the distressed areas is clean, potable water. We will address that need,” he added.

On Monday, the Makati City Council authorized the release of P4 million from the city’s funds to support aid and relief operations in the cities of Cagayan de Oro, Dumaguete and Iligan.

Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay said the City Council authorized the release of the amount from city’s Quick Response Fund under the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund of the 2011 Executive Budget.

The SM group of companies has donated P10 million in cash and in kind. It has also supplied evacuation centers in Cagayan de Oro more than 10,000 bottles of water. The SM mall in Cagayan de Oro, which was not affected by the floods, also gives shelter to some families.

The Davao City government held a special session Monday to approve the P3-million assistance to the affected areas.

Mayor Sara Duterte said the city will continue to extend assistance to the victims of the flashfloods and may also send search and rescue teams should the local government units in the area ask for such support.

Various civic and non-government organizations in the city have also launched fund-raising drives for the flood victims.

The Sonshine Media Philippine Movement of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy of the Jesus Christ the Name Above Every Name congregation sent truckloads of bottled water and relief goods to Cagayan de Oro City and Iligan immediately after the incident.

Not to be outdone, the Butuan City council headed by City Mayor Dr. Ferdinand Amante Jr. sent search and rescue teams to augment other agencies involved in various operations.