The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) of Davao Occidental is continuing to monitor six landslide damming incidents in Jose Abad Santos following the successful clearing of a river blockage in Barangay San Isidro. Ongoing rains continue to delay response operations in other affected areas.
Clearing Operation in Barangay San Isidro
Jayson A. Montimara, local disaster risk reduction and management officer of the PDRRMO, said the landslide dam in Barangay San Isidro along the Nuing River was cleared on June 24. The operation involved a joint effort by the provincial government, the 545th Engineer Combat Battalion, the 73rd Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army, and Davao Central 911. They removed accumulated debris that had blocked the Nuing River and caused water to back up upstream.
Landslide Damming Explained
According to the academic website ResearchGate, landslide damming occurs when massive amounts of debris from a landslide—such as rocks, soil, or mud—slide into and completely obstruct a river or stream. This creates a natural barrier that blocks the flow of water, leading to the formation of an upstream lake.
Multiple Incidents in Jose Abad Santos
Montemara said the San Isidro incident is only one of several landslide damming incidents reported in Jose Abad Santos, which recorded the highest number of disaster-related incidents in Davao Occidental following recent heavy rains. "Hindi lang po isa ang landslide damming na na-occur sa Jose Abad Santos. Si Jose Abad Santos kasi ang municipality na may pinakamaraming reported damage sa Davao Occidental. Sa San Isidro along Nuing River, isa lang iyon sa major. Meron pa pong lima hanggang anim na landslide damming na kasalukuyang mina-manage ng province at mina-map out rin," Montemara said during the National Disaster Resilience Month 2026 Regional Resilience Information Caravan on July 3, 2026, at the Pinnacle Hotel in Davao. (The landslide dam in Jose Abad Santos is not an isolated incident. Jose Abad Santos has recorded the highest number of reported damages in Davao Occidental. The San Isidro incident is only one of the major cases. There are five to six more landslide dams that the province is currently managing and mapping.)
Areas Under Assessment
Among the areas under assessment are Molmol, Kikadao, and Kapikotan in Barangay Butuan; Kiotog, Sitio Malinawon in Barangay Bukid; and Sitio Daingan in Barangay Camalian, where authorities have also observed impounded water and debris blocking portions of river channels.
"Sa barangay Camalian, according sa among survey, mga 3 meters ang channeling ug nakadiskubre pud mi ug dagkong boulders nga adunay mga crack ug debris materials. Sa karon, wala pa'y operational timeline tungod kay padayon pa ang ulan sa lugar. Unsafe pa gihapon para sa among responders ang pag-operate," he said. (In Barangay Camalian, our survey showed a channel about three meters wide, and we also discovered large boulders with cracks and debris materials. At present, we still have no operational timeline because rainfall continues in the area. It remains unsafe for our responders to conduct operations.)
Weather Conditions Hinder Response
Montemara said continuous rainfall brought by weather disturbances affecting Eastern Mindanao has made it difficult for response teams to conduct clearing operations safely. He added that authorities will continue monitoring the affected areas and will begin additional clearing operations once weather conditions improve and it is safe for responders to enter the sites.
