“Today is a sad day in my home province of Bukidnon as continuous rains drenched our barangays causing deadly landslides. My family deeply condoles with the affected families and we share their grief over the loss of their loved ones and properties.

I fear that the prolonged effect of the La Nina phenomenon is going to be with us for several more weeks and I therefore order the provincial disaster unit and the municipal LGUs to work together and immediately study the geo-hazard maps to pinpoint areas most vulnerable to landslides and if necessary conduct a forcible evacuation on affected areas and communities.

My office has sent a team to personally assess damage and help casualties. We also offer assistance for rehabilitation especially to those who were displaced or affected by the landslides.

The continuous rains had rendered our roads unsafe for travel and some areas for habitation due to the nature of the soil and underground waters.

The recent floods in Davao, Cotabato, Maguindanao and Central Luzon and the landslides in Bukidnon are a wake up call to intensify our national disaster risk management and prevention efforts and Climate Change adaption measures to help our local government prepare better land use plans and properly equip them so they can manage and prepare for disasters.”

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