On October 11 to 12 (2021), all municipalities of southern Palawan experienced widespread flooding. Local social media outlets reported several lowland residents have drowned in the southern communities. Unbeknownst to most, upland communities were also affected. Flash floods eroded portions of mountain roads and rainwater collected in large upland basins where these upland roads pass through. On October 15, three days after the start of search and recovery operations in the southern lowlands started, mobility of upland residents - mostly members of indigenous people's groups - is still hampered by damage to their local pathways. This is not to mention, subsistence food crops of upland residents were also destroyed by the rains and flash floods that came with the monsoon rains intensified by typhoon Maring (International Name: Tropical Cyclone Kompasu).
Upland residents walking home after getting education modules for students in their households.
A flooded portion of an upland road in southern Palawan.
A deep crevice in a mountain road making vehicular movement impossible. As one local put it, "hindi pa ito nababakbak ng ganito mula noon. Ngayon pa lang [This has never been eroded ever since. Only now.]."
The stream that overflowed and eroded a culvert where a deep crevice now cuts a mountain road.
One Palawan volunteers unloading relief packs in upland southern Narra.
Distributing relief at a local resident's house.
Distributing relief on a mountain road side.
"We should have more of these photos of flood events in the uplands to raise awareness."
- Mahar Lagmay, October 18, 2021
Images and text by S.A. Pontillas. Reserved 2021, Getty Images, iStock.
The continuing relief drive is an initiative of organizational partners Palawan Biodiversity Conservation Advocates, Inc. (PBCAI), Environmental Legal Assistance Center (ELAC), Katala Foundation, Inc. (KFI), and IDEAS.
In-Kind Donations are accepted at:
PBCAI Office
#129-A Recaido Subdivision
Manalo Street (in front of LBC)
Puerto Princesa City
GCASH Donations:
Frances Arvee P. Salazar
