Zambo City floods leave P58-M losses

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Flash floods that swept through this city after five days of incessant rains have left an estimated P57.9-million losses in agriculture and fisheries, according to the local crisis management committee.

The flood death toll has climbed to six, the latest a teenager, a certain John Rovel Falcatan, 17, who went swimming in a swelling river in Barangay Pasonanca last Thursday. His body was recovered later that day.

City agriculturist Diosdado Palacad reported to Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar that the hardest-hit by the heavy flooding was the fisheries sector, with losses placed at P36.14 million covering 4.4 hectares of fishponds and seaweed farms. Damage to agriculture was estimated at P21.86 million covering 2.03 hectares.

Several communities in at least 25 barangays were flooded, displacing 4,804 families. 

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said at least 46 evacuation centers are housing more than 31, 000 families affected by floods in at least 5 regions in the country.