The continuous heavy downpour on the province Bukidnon was reported to have caused the flash flood in Cagayan de Oro (CDO) City on July 13, 2021, at 8 p.m. The sudden surge of floodwaters was unexpected by the city residents who experienced fair weather throughout the day and only light rains in the evening. 

However, the said neighboring province is on a higher elevation, and floodwaters would naturally flow downstream to nearby CDO. Residents in the barangays of Baloy, Tablon, and Cugman experienced waist-deep waters. The flood displaced 1,150 families and washed out three houses.

Upon learning of this incident, the Northern Mindanao Adventist Community Services, Inc. (NORMACS), through its director Pastor Melnaire V. Cagas, speedily partnered with ADRA Philippines. Together, these two church agencies promptly reached out to the flood victims.

Help was given to flood victims in the form of cash assistance of ₱1,500 (approximately US$30) per family. 

In Cugman, the two agencies distributed the financial assistance by visiting the victims in their houses, while in the barangays of Baloy and Tablon, they gathered the victims onto a covered basketball court. Health protocols were strictly observed throughout these distribution activities. About 450 families were blessed by the financial help allocated by ADRA Philippines.

Pastor Melnaire Cagas, of the North-Central Mindanao Conference, coordinated with Pastor Robert Villardo, district pastor of the Gusa District, and local government leaders in affected localities to implement a speedy and smooth distribution of calamity aid.

This article was originally published on the Southern Asia-Pacific Division’s news site