THE period from the last week of January to the first few days of February 2023 was a harsh time for the people of Mindanao, particularly in the Davao Region. The shear line, the subsequent northeast monsoon, and the trough of the low-pressure area brought continuous heavy rains for several days.

This prolonged period of rainfall caused severe consequences, resulting in flooding, landslides, and other related incidents across various regions of Mindanao. In the Davao Region alone, it affected approximately 45,000 families. Aside from the adverse impact on the daily activities and livelihoods of residents, the heavy rain also damaged roads, bridges, buildings and houses.