On July 7, 2022, strong winds and heavy rains brought about by the Southwest Monsoon hit the province of Ifugao that led to flashflood and mudslide in the town of Banaue and landslide in the municipality Hungduan which resulted to destruction of properties, agricultural crops and infrastructure. This has also affected the most vulnerable sector of the population, the poor and marginalized families.
Sixty-one-year-old Ms. Divina Uyagon of barangay Poblacion, Banaue narrated on the afternoon of July 7, she was at work, varnishing wooden ‘sungka’ (two-player board game) when she and her husband noticed the abrupt and heavy downpour of rain and the rising water that they decided to look for their youngest child and opted to go home.
She said with the impacts of the flashflood, it had also swept away her son’s motorcycle and brought leaks to the rooms of their house.
As the town continuously conduct clearing operations, Ms. Uyagon thanked the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office Cordillera Administrative Region (DSWD Field Office Cordillera) for the financial assistance and family food packs that they received.
As of July 19, DSWD Field Office Cordillera has provided PhP 7,164,945.08 to the affected families of the flashflood and mudslide in Ifugao.
Director Arnel B. Garcia, CESO II said the financial assistance through the Assistance in Crisis Situation (AICs) were provided to the 1,035 affected families with partially damaged houses with a total cost of assistance amounting to PhP 5.2 million. He added that the payout is a joint effort of Social Workers from the DSWD Field Office Cordillera, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office-Ifugao, Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office- Banaue.
In addition, the agency also provided 2,190 Family Food Packs (FFPs) worth PhP 1,409, 336.85 and Non-Food Items comprised of: 401 Sleeping Kit, 6 Hygiene Kit, 6 Family Kit, 6 Kitchen Kit and 2 rolls Laminated Sacks with a total cost of PhP 545,608.23.
Director Garcia added the Field Office remains prepared with Food and Non-Food Items prepositioned at the Regional Warehouse and strategically placed in provinces in the region.
In the continuous efforts to help Ifugao from the effects of the incident, he added that the agency is closely coordinating with the LGU Banaue and partner agencies.
“We are one with the efforts of LGU Banaue to bounce back from the effects of the mudslide/flashflood. We also would like to thank the Social Workers who worked day and night to complete the payout in the municipality, and the different volunteers: Ifugao Philippine National Police, at Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) Community Defense Center 1404th, and Students of the Government Internship Program for helping in the delivery of relief items.”
The flashflood and mudslide caused by Southwest Monsoon occurred affected nine barangays namely: Amganad, Poblacion, Tam-an, Viewpoint, Bocos and Poitan, San Fernando, Tam-an, Uhaj, Viewpoint and barangay Bokiawan, in Hungduan, Ifugao.
Data shows, an estimate number of 500 families or 1,500 individuals affected while one totally damaged house and three individuals were reported to have been injured during the incident. # DSWD FIELD OFFICE CAR, SOCIAL MARKETING UNIT, LAUREN ALIMONDO
