50 cars conked out on main highway due to floodwaters

By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent

ROADS and Traffic Administration  (RTA) chief Nonito Oclarit yesterday said no less than 50 vehicles conked out and may have been damaged due to floodwaters in sections of the city’s main highway alone on Monday.

Engr. Oclarit said the vehicles that broke down aggravated the monstrous traffic jams resulting from the floodings.

“Dili na man maka-abante kay nalubog na sila sa tubig baha,  mao to nga  na-build-up gyud ang traffic,” he said.

Lawyer Jose Edgardo Uy, chairman of city hall’s Task Force Hapsay Dalan said the number of cargo trucks also factored in the traffic jams that lasted till the wee hours.

Meanwhile, Malacanang said all concerned government agencies have been assisting the victims of the massive flooding in northern Mindanao.

“Government is doing everything to ensure that things go back to normal especially now that the weather is improving and roads are again passable,” said presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella.

Abella said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has started providing assistance to the families affected by flooding, particularly in Cagayan de Oro.

He said the DSWD Field Office 10 has 3,200 bags of rice prepositioned in Misamis Occidental, Camiguin islands, Iligan and Bukidnon.

“DSWD also has 9,000 family food packs 2,000 dignity kits and a stand-by fund of P7 million. The dignity kits and family food packs will be sent today to affected families. The DSWD is likewise ready to augment relief supplies as needed,” Abella said.

Response is manageable at the local government and agency level, and does not require the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to step in, according to Undersecretary Ricardo Jalad, NDRRMC executive director. (with pna report)