NATION

Malaybalay floods cause P12-M damage

Perseus Echeminada · Jul 31, 2026, 2:53 AM

A woman and a child walk along EDSA in Quezon City under an umbrella as rain falls. PAGASA said two low-pressure areas may bring scattered rains over Metro Manila on Wednesday. — PHOTOGRAPH by Analy Labor for DAILY TRIBUNE

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Heavy rains that triggered massive flooding in several outlying barangays of Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, earlier this month caused an estimated P12 million in damage to infrastructure and agriculture, according to the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO).

The hardest-hit areas included Barangays Managok, Violeta, Apo Macote, Linabo and Simaya.

CDRRMO head Alan Comiso said the flooding destroyed houses worth an estimated P1.5 million, while infrastructure damage was placed at P3.8 million. Agricultural losses reached P6.8 million, including damage to livestock, poultry and rice fields.

A 50-year-old farmer from Purok 11 in Barangay Managok was killed during the flash floods.

The heavy rains also triggered a series of landslides, stranding motorists and forcing the suspension of classes in six elementary schools.

Several vehicles were stranded along the national highway after floodwaters overflowed from the Sawaga and Pulangi rivers.

The Malaybalay City government deployed heavy equipment and rescue teams to assist residents in the affected barangays.

The Department of Education also issued an advisory suspending face-to-face classes in affected schools to ensure the safety of learners and personnel.

Schools severely affected by flooding included Sawaga Elementary School, Langasihan Elementary School, Managok Central School and Maligaya Integrated School.

Matangpatang Elementary School was affected by road inaccessibility caused by landslides.

To ensure learning continuity, the affected schools were directed to implement Modular Distance Learning while flooding and road-access problems persisted.