Home Tags Posts tagged with "Jose Abad Santos"
Tag:

Jose Abad Santos

News

Davao City okays P3-M worth of financial aid to 7.8 magnitude quake victims

by Nova Mae Francas
written by Nova Mae Francas

THE 21ST City Council moved to extend financial aid to Davao Occidental and Sarangani following the Magnitude 7.8 earthquake that shook the provinces last June 8.

During the regular session on Tuesday, Jan. 30, lawmakers approved seven ordinances under suspended rules, giving financial assistance to the following: 

1. Province of Davao Occidental- P1 million
2. City of General Santos – P500,000

For municipalities under Davao Occidental: 

3. Municipality of Sarangani- P300,000
4. Municipality of Jose Abad Santos- P300,000

For municipalities under Sarangani province

5. Municipality of Glan- P300,000
6. Municipality of Malapatan- P300,000
7. Municipality of Alabel- P300,000

Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang, committee chair on finance, ways, means and appropriations, said the funds will be sourced from the 30% Quick Response Fund (QRF) portion of the 5% Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (DRRMF) for the calendar year 2026.

Alfredo D. Baloran, head of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, recommended providing financial assistance to local government units that have declared a state of calamity. 

The province of Davao Occidental recorded 36,146 affected families from 82 barangays, while Sarangani province recorded 99,445 affected families and 41 confirmed deaths. GenSan, on the other hand, reported 270,130 families affected and 22 deaths.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
News

Flood threat eases as artificial dam in San Isidro, Jose Abad Santos, breached

by Nova Mae Francas
written by Nova Mae Francas

THE PROVINCIAL government of Davao Occidental successfully breached an artificial dam formed in Barangay San Isidro, Jose Abad Santos, brought about by the landslide after the 7.8 magnitude quake on June 8.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) Davao Occidental announced on Wednesday, June 24, that the dam-breaching operation was completed successfully. 

“Nitong hapon po successful na nalagyan ng daluyan ng tubig ang artificial dam sa Brgy. San Isidro at nakarating na sa Brgy. Nuing sa coastal areas natin yung tubig mula sa upland barangay sa San Isidro,” JAS Mayor Jason John Joyce said in a Facebook video.

The agency said the breaching operation is to control the flow of water upstream and reduce the possible threats to flash floods in the communities, as monitoring and response efforts are ongoing.

“Padayon ang monitoring ug clearing operations aron masiguro ang kaluwasan sa tanan ug malikayan ang dugang nga peligro sa maong lugar,” PDRRMO Davao Occidental said.

An artificial dam happens when landslide debris obstructs natural waterways, causing water to accumulate upstream, forming a temporary artificial lake.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau XI said that possible flashfloods or debris flows might occur should a dam break, which could happen during extreme weather conditions or aftershocks. So, residents living downstream must immediately evacuate for their own safety.

JAS information officer Julie Marie Buen reported that about 2,000 residents evacuated to a safer area as a precautionary measure.

To note, the five sites of artificial dams were identified in the barangays of Butuan, Camalian, Malalan, San Isidro, and Sugal, according to Jose Abad Santos’ summary reports.

As of June 24, the local government of JAS reported seven deaths, 40 injuries, and 13 are still missing from the 7.8 magnitude quake. 

The number of affected families reached 22,576, while 4,376 households are situated in evacuation sites and temporary shelters.

The local government reported 6,700 damaged houses, where 2,648 are totally damaged, and 4,052 are partially damaged.

Damaged infrastructures included 39 schools (405 classrooms); 16 barangay halls; 8 barangay gymnasiums; 13 health facilities; 18 other facilities; and 74 churches.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
News

2,000 JAS residents evacuated as flashfloods feared after quake created artificial dams 

by Nova Mae Francas
written by Nova Mae Francas

THE OFFICE of the Civil Defense (OCD) XI is assessing five artificial dams in Jose Abad Santos town, Davao Occidental, which were created by the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck offshore Sarangani on June 8.

The five sites were identified in the barangays of Butuan, Camalian, Malalan, San Isidro, and Sugal, according to Jose Abad Santos’ summary reports.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau XI said that possible flashfloods or debris flows might occur should a dam break, which could happen during extreme weather conditions or aftershocks. So, residents living downstream must immediately evacuate for their own safety.

The MGB XI said that artificial dams form when earthquake-triggered landslides block natural waterways.

JAS information officer Julie Marie Buen reported that about 2,000 residents have been evacuated to a safer area as a precautionary measure.

OCD XI regional director Ednar Dayanghirang said they are considering three methods to safely drain the impounded water, which is still undergoing ground evaluations at the municipal level.

The methods include controlled blasting to break open the blockages; manual excavation using manpower; and inserting siphon tubes to allow controlled water drainage.

“The three options will be evaluated by the provincial government of Davao Occidental and the municipal government of Jose Abad Santos, and tonight during our meeting, it will be decided,” Dayanghirang said.

The MGB XI released a GeoHazard Threat Advisory on June 14 following its aerial survey that showed earthquake-induced landslides resulting in five artificial damming in Nuing River in Barangay San Isidro, Sugal River in Barangay Sugal, Butuan River in Barangay Molmol, Malalan River, and an unnamed creek in Barangay Malalan.

The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office of Jose Abad Santos reported another damming in Barangay Camalian.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
News

DSWD extends P20-K cash assistance to 7 families of confirmed dead in JAS, DavOcc

by Nova Mae Francas
written by Nova Mae Francas

THE DEPARTMENT of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) XI will provide cash relief assistance amounting to P20,000 to each of the seven families of confirmed fatalities from the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Jose Abad Santos (JAS), Davao Occidental.

Personnel from the DSWD XI Davao Occidental Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) team and Crisis Intervention Unit (CIU) traveled to JAS on Wednesday to deliver the financial assistance to bereaved families in their respective barangays.

According to a report from the Jose Abad Santos local government unit, the seven confirmed fatalities as of 5:11 p.m. on June 9 are: 

  1. Analy Badal Dawa, 26, female (Barangay Nuing)
  2. Angelica Dawa, 26, female (Barangay Nuing)
  3. Awel De Arce, 64, male (Barangay Nuing)
  4. Arabel Bansil, 45, female (Barangay Camalian)
  5. Maribel Bansil, 6, female (Barangay Camalian) 
  6. Stella Ramirez Datu, female (Barangay Sugal); and 
  7. Jade Lacay, 18, male (Barangay Malalan)

Alongside the continued provision of psychosocial support and other services, the measure is part of the government’s immediate intervention to ease the financial burden on bereaved families.

DSWD XI is coordinating with the local government and other agencies to ensure the swift, orderly, and sensitive delivery of assistance to affected communities.

JAS municipal mayor Jason John Joyce declared on Wednesday that the municipality is now under a state of calamity.

Affected families reached 3,300, according to the JAS municipal disaster risk reduction and management office.

The DSWD XI continues damage assessment operations in the barangays of Caburan Small, Caburan Big, Marabatuan, Magulibas, Meybio, and Carahayan in the municipality.

The assessment aims to determine the extent of damage to residences, infrastructure, and other facilities, which will serve as the basis for the immediate provision of assistance and other necessary interventions for affected families and communities.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
News

10ID troops deploy to cut-off areas; 10ID chief orders Black Hawk evacuations in quake zones

by Rhoda Grace Saron
written by Rhoda Grace Saron

THE MILITARY has deployed additional troops to isolated, hard-to-reach barangays in Davao Occidental as the 10th Infantry Division intensifies its humanitarian and disaster response footprint following the catastrophic magnitude 7.8 earthquake.

Major General Alvin Luzon, Commander of the 10th ID, personally spearheaded a joint aerial Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis on Tuesday, June 9, flying over severely hit communities in Jose Abad Santos and Balut Island, Sarangani, Davao Occidental.

The high-level aerial assessment included top representatives from the Office of Civil Defense, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the Davao Occidental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office to map out critical relief corridors.

Amid heavily disrupted road networks, the military mobilized air assets to save lives. A Philippine Air Force Black Hawk helicopter successfully executed an emergency air casualty evacuation for four rescued residents on the isolated Balut Island, flying them to mainland medical facilities for urgent treatment.

Major General Luzon emphasized that while Agila troopers are on the ground conducting search and rescue, damage assessment, and route clearing from General Santos City to Davao Occidental, the immediate focus is on breaking through geographic isolation.

“Our priority is the safety and well-being of communities affected by this earthquake,” Luzon said. Through close coordination with government agencies and local government units, we will continue to provide assistance, support ongoing response efforts, and help communities recover from their effects.”

 “We have deployed additional Agila Troopers to severely affected barangays in Davao Occidental, particularly in areas where roads remain impassable, to ensure that assistance reaches those who need it most.”

The joint operations come as disaster agencies scramble to deliver aid past the damaged Mabila and Balangonan ports and landslide-choked roads that have cut off coastal towns from standard supply lines.

The 10th ID command assured the public that ground and air assets will remain fully embedded with local government units until search, rescue, and initial recovery phases are complete.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
News

Show cause order

by Rhoda Grace Saron
written by Rhoda Grace Saron
  • DPWH chief fumes over ‘ghost’ flood control project in Davao Occidental

PUBLIC Works Secretary Vince Dizon will issue a show-cause order on Friday, Sept. 26, on all district engineering offices of Davao Occidental over the alleged flood control project in Jose Abad Santos that the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) team visited on Thursday, Sept. 25.

Dizon was joined by ICI special adviser Mayor Benjamin Magalong in inspecting the P96.5 million infrastructure project in Jose Abad Santos by contractor St. Timothy Construction Corp. 

The project, started in 2022, was “found to be completely unfinished, despite the contractor having been fully paid by the government.” 

St. Timothy Construction is owned by controversial couple Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya and Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya.

Dizon was reportedly furious during an inspection of the project near the Culaman Bridge in Davao Occidental. He even scolded District Engineer Rodrigo Larete on-site.

“We receive reports from the communities. We have to fix it so that the contractor has to fix it. Has to finish it. Bayad sya eh,” he said during a press briefing held at the DPWH Engineering Office in Panacan on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025.

The infrastructure project, which began and was funded during the previous administration, appeared to have barely started.

For his part, Larete admitted that the winning bidder, St. Timothy Construction Company, was already marked as fully paid by the agency.

Local residents confirmed to investigators that virtually no construction work had been completed. The unfinished facility was designed to mitigate flooding and protect a nearby community and school from seasonal inundation. 

“Walang nangyari dun last 2022. Nagkaroon lang ng construction last month,” Dizon said. “Karong klaro na it’s a ghost project.”

He also noted the conflicting accounts between the district engineer and barangay officials and residents of the area. The village official also told the ICI that he could provide evidence to help them in their investigation. 

“Nakikita namin mga kaso unang una three cases graft and corrupt practices, Republic Act 309, tapos meron tayong malversation of funds under Article 217. Meron din tayong violation on procurement, aside from the administrative violation of Republic Act 6713,” he said.

Magalong also did not discount the involvement of politicians in the ghost projects, considering that  “sa mga nakikita namin sa ibang projects lagi nalang merong politicians.” 

Photo courtesy of ICI

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Verified by MonsterInsights