Davao — The Davao Region is currently reeling from the severe impact of the southwest monsoon, locally known as "habagat," which has caused significant displacement and casualties across several municipalities. As of July 16, 2026, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 11 reported that the weather disturbance has tragically resulted in four deaths, five missing persons, and one injured individual. The storm has broadly affected 3,936 people, or 1,266 families, spanning 19 barangays, and caused widespread destruction to infrastructure, including 184 damaged or destroyed houses.
A Critical Response to Humanitarian Needs
Davao Occidental stands as the hardest-hit area, with the municipality of Jose Abad Santos alone accounting for 874 affected families across 16 barangays. In response, local DSWD teams have been deployed to provide immediate necessities, including the delivery of 1,200 family food packs to those displaced in Jose Abad Santos. With 179 families currently sheltering in nine evacuation centers, the agency is prioritizing the continuous supply of food and essential goods to ensure that the immediate needs of the vulnerable population are met during this challenging period.
Providing Support to Affected Communities
Beyond immediate food distribution, the national government has committed to providing long-term support for the victims, including a pledge of PHP 20,000 in cash relief assistance for each family that lost a loved one due to the monsoon. The DSWD is also scaling up its reach to neighboring areas, having already delivered 286 family food packs to Sulop and 72 to Kiblawan in Davao del Sur. In total, the agency has already provided PHP 1.3 million worth of aid to families across the region, reflecting a coordinated effort to stabilize the situation and prevent further hardship for those whose homes and livelihoods were severely impacted.
Unified Efforts for Ongoing Recovery
The DSWD continues to work in close coordination with local government units and partner agencies to monitor the situation and facilitate the ongoing disaster response. As search and rescue operations for the missing individuals proceed, the government remains focused on maintaining a steady flow of aid to all affected communities. This proactive stance ensures that residents in the worst-hit areas receive the necessary resources to navigate the aftermath of the monsoon, reinforcing the agency's commitment to swift and effective humanitarian action during national weather emergencies.
