Davao residents affected by flood aided

DAVAO CITY — The City Social Welfare and Development Office here has distributed at least 9,000 welfare goods to the 16 barangays affected by the 8 November inner-city and street flooding.

CSWDO focal person for community welfare program Mae Aquino on Tuesday said that at least 8,465 families with 19,037 dependents were affected by the flooding.

"We need to distribute around 9,000 more, but as of today, our distribution continues because we do not want to delay our service for them," Aquino said.

Based on the assessment, the recent flooding also incurred 52 damaged houses, 41 of which are located in Talomo B, Talomo A (8), and Toril-A (3). For partially damaged houses, 25 are located in Talomo B, three in Talomo A, and two are in Tugbok. Fourteen houses in Barangay Talomo B were also reported to have been "slightly damaged."

"As of now, we cannot give the exact amount [of assistance per category] because it still needs to be assessed as damages may vary in amount," Aquino said.

Meanwhile, the City Health Office issued a public health reminder against leptospirosis and skin diseases after the unusually heavy flooding in some areas of the city recently.

CHO head Dr. Thomas Miguel Ababon said that medical teams were deployed to ensure the health of the evacuees as well as the flood-affected villages.

"We continue to offer preventive medication against leptospirosis, skin diseases, and other infections brought about by infected flood water," Ababon said, adding that medical teams are still on standby in the worst-hit areas.

Leptospirosis is a potentially fatal disease resulting from direct and indirect exposure to the Leptospira bacteria common in brown rats.