7-year-old girl dead in Cebu flooding

A seven-year-old girl died following the flash floods that hit Cebu province,  Mark Salazar reported on “24 Oras."

According to authorities, the lone fatality was reported in Barangay Cantabaco in Toledo City, Cebu.

Heavy rains and flooding were likewise experienced in other provinces in the country including Marinduque where the flood waters left damage to properties in the municipality of Mogpog.

A similar scenario was experienced in Davao Oriental where 50 families were evacuated from their houses in the barangays of Central and Mayo in Mati City.

Social Welfare and Development Secretary Erwin Tulfo said he has ordered the distribution of relief packages and cash assistance to the flood victims.

“Inatasan na ho natin o inutusan po ‘yung aming regional director doon na magbigay ng cash ayuda at mga relief item pero umuwi naman daw kaagad ang mga tao sa kanilang bahay so hindi na po kaya cash na lang ang naibigay namin,” said Tulfo.

(We already ordered our regional directors to distribute financial assistance and relief items but the residents immediately went home so we were only able to give out cash.)

“Doon naman po sa mga kababayan natin sa Negros naman po ay humupa na rin daw ang baha, so ‘pag ganu’n, hindi na kami nagpapalabas ng mga pagkain. Ang pinapalabas na lang po namin ay cash ayuda,” he said.

(As for the Negros residents, I was told the flood has already subsided so we were not able to distribute food packs. We also gave out cash.)

“Lunes pa lang, nagbigay na ako ng kautusan na i-preposiiton na ang mga relief goods natin, food packs, relief items tulad ng hygiene kits, sleeping kits pati mga tuyong damit na pinack na namin. Inutusan na natin ang mga regional directors na ibaba na sa mga bayan-bayan,” he added.

(I  instructed them as early as Monday to preposition the relief goods, food packs, relief items such as hygiene and sleeping kits as well as clothes. We also ordered the regional directors to hand them over to the municipalities.)

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) advised the public to remain vigilant as two more typhoons are expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility this month.

Meanwhile, the Manila International Airport Authority suspended four flights earlier due to the inclement weather.—Sundy Locus/LDF, GMA News