Floodwaters recede in Oriental Mindoro, revealing extensive damage to rice fields and infrastructure.
According to the latest report from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), the damage to agriculture has reached P258 million, while infrastructure damage—including destroyed roads and flood control projects—is estimated at P67M.
Oriental Mindoro is known as one of the country’s top rice-producing provinces; rice farmers are among those devastated by severe flooding.
The farmers are now facing uncertainty, unsure of how to start again after losing their hard-earned crops.
The families of the affected farmers, who have now lost their source of livelihood, are appealing for food assistance.
“Nagsignify na rin ng tulong ang ating national na pamahalaan gaya ng DSWD, OCD at iba pang mga ahensya para tumugon,” said Vicente Gahol, head of Oriental Mindoro PDRRMO, on DZMM Teleradyo.
“Pagkain ang pangunahin natin ibinibigay dahil sa ilang araw nang nasa evacuation center sila, at walang naging trabaho noong mga nakaraang araw, walang pagkain ang ating mga kababayan,” he added.
A total of 35,285 families, or 134,426 individuals, have been affected across Oriental Mindoro by the southwest monsoon (habagat), intensified by Tropical Cyclones Dante and Emong.
Some 838 families, or 3,325 individuals, remain in evacuation centers.
The municipality of Naujan was the most heavily affected, with 57 barangays submerged, followed by Calapan City with 39, Baco with 24, and both Victoria and Pola with 16 barangays each.
In Puerto Galera, there were also 12 landslides recorded, 8 of which occurred in a popular tourist destination.
Oriental Mindoro has now officially been placed under a state of calamity after the Sangguniang Panlalawigan approved the request of Governor Humerlito “Bonz” Dolor.
Authorities continue to monitor rivers throughout the province, many of which remain at critical levels.
