Valencia City Declared Under State of Calamity After Deadly Floods

Valencia City in Bukidnon has been officially placed under a state of calamity after devastating floods caused multiple casualties and widespread destruction. The local government council declared the state of calamity on the afternoon of Friday, September 19, 2025, in response to the extensive damage.

Reports from the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) revealed that the floods inflicted property damage estimated at over P63 million. Some 83 homes were completely destroyed, impacting more than 2,000 families in the area.

The declaration enables the local authorities to mobilize calamity funds for immediate disaster response efforts, including providing aid to affected residents. Jovenone Ellacone, head of the CDRRMO Training Division, explained, "There is a provision under RA 10121 that mandates a quick response fund amounting to at least 5% of a local government unit's revenue, which is allocated specifically for disaster management."

By 3:40 p.m. on Thursday, September 18, authorities recovered four bodies while four individuals remained missing. The victims included a 53-year-old teacher named Sir Labay, a 27-year-old identified as Viña, and two students aged 13 and 17 years. Ellacone noted, "Most of those who perished or went missing were unable to evade the strong flood currents."

In one incident at Purok 20, Poblacion, a pickup truck carrying one of the victims was overturned and swept away by the floodwaters. Many homes experienced severe flooding, with water levels rising above the height of an average person.

By Friday, floodwaters began to recede, permitting some evacuees to return home, although many remained in evacuation centers. Efforts to restore essential utilities were underway, with teams from the First Bukidnon Electric Cooperative, Inc. (FIBECO) and Valencia City Water District working to reinstate power and water supply to the affected communities.