COTABATO CITY – The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) said it has allocated funds and is now extending various forms of assistance to individuals and families affected by flash floods and landslides brought about by typhoon “Vinta” (Tembin) in Lanao del Sur province.
Governor Mujiv Hataman said the ARMM’s Humanitarian and Emergency Action Response Team (HEART) Operation Center in Cotabato City is coordinating with local government units and disaster risk reduction management councils across the region, especially in Lanao del Sur, to assess the impact of the storm.
As of Saturday, the province of Lanao del Sur has reported the heaviest damage. ARMM officials are also closely monitoring the situation in Basilan because of continuous heavy rain in the province. So far, reports received from the remaining provinces of the region, specifically Maguindanao, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi, have not been as alarming.
“Members and officials of the regional Humanitarian Emergency Action and Response Team have already been deployed,” Gov. Hataman said, adding, relief packs were distributed in areas affected by the heavy rains.
ARMM-HEART reported that as of Saturday, at least 12 towns in Lanao del Sur experienced heavy flooding and landslides and these are Wato, Balindong, Bubong, Madalum, Tugaya, Bacolod Kalawi, Madamba, Tamparan, Piagapo, Calanogas, Maguing, Poona Bayabao and Ditsaan Ramain.
The number of reported deaths and missing residents, subject to validation by the Department of Health-ARMM, are as follows: Piagapo: 10 deaths; Bacolod Kalawi: 2 deaths, 1 missing; Madalum: 4 deaths, 1 missing; Tamparan: 1 death; Tugaya: 2 deaths; and Wato Balindong: 2 deaths.
In Poona Bayabao, 25 villages were inundated, three of these reported heavy damage to properties. The town’s provincial road remains impassable as of Saturday morning. Torrential rains triggered landslides in the towns of Tugaya, Bacolod-Kalawi, and Madalum also resulting in closure of roads. In Madalum, mounds of earth and debris covered about 200 meters of the road.
“Challenging ang pagpasok sa Madalum for rescue and relief operations. Kailangan pa natin ng road clearance,” Gov. Hataman said.
Since Friday night, the Department of Public Works and Highways-ARMM and Region 10 and the district engineering offices in Lanao del Sur are now clearing up the roads and bridges affected by the floods and landslides with support from the 6th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army.
“Isang probinsiya lang sa rehiyon ang pinaka apektado ng bagyong Vinta, pero hindi natin sila dapat pabayaan lalo pa’t katatapos lang ng Marawi siege,” Gov. Hataman said. (Bureau of Public Information)
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