THE national government is ready to provide relief assistance to families affected by flash floods and landslides in Davao del Sur and Davao Occidental provinces, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said on Thursday.

Marcos gave the assurance after bad weather caused rivers to overflow in Davao del Sur and Davao Occidental, submerging several towns in floods early Thursday.

In a Twitter post, Marcos said concerned government agencies are monitoring the situation in the two provinces.

“We have received reports of flash floods and landslides in Davao Del Sur and Davao Occidental due to heavy rains brought by the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone,” Marcos said.

“Our concerned agencies have already taken the actions needed to secure the affected individuals,” he added.

Marcos noted that the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) are currently doing clearing operations.

On the other hand, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is currently leading the relief efforts, Marcos said, adding that the agency continued to monitor the evacuation centers to “assess further assistance needed.”

Marcos on Wednesday flew to Bangkok, Thailand for the 29th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders Meeting.

Around four families from Davao del Sur and 6,000 families from Davao Occidental were forced to evacuate due to flash floods and landslides, according to a separate Twitter post by the Office of the Press Secretary, citing a DSWD report.

Water levels from overflowing rivers in Kiblawan and Malalag towns in Davao del Sur rose because of heavy rains that started Wednesday night.

A landslide also blocked the Malalag national highway leading to General Santos in Baluyan village.

In Davao Occidental, the towns of Sta. Maria, Malita, Don Marcelino, and Jose Abad Santos also experienced flooding on Thursday morning.

Portions of the Buhangin-Malita and Sta. Maria-Malita highway was impassable as of Thursday morning due to landslides on roadside slopes in the area. Philippine News Agency