COTABATO CITY – More than 15,000 families in Maguindanao province in the Muslim autonomous region have been adversely affected by flash floods due to continuous rains the past days.
In a joint report by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao-Humanitarian Emergency Action Response Team (ARMM-HEART), said over 75,000 people were affected by floods in at least 68 villages in the towns of Ampatuan, Datu Salibo, Rajah Buayan, Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Buluan, Mangudadatu, Pandag, Datu Paglas, Datu Abdullah Sangki and Sultan Sa Barongis.
The flooding also disrupted classes in 23 public schools affecting 8,111 elementary and secondary students and 178 teachers. Around 487 hectares of farmland were also damaged with losses reaching to at least P10 million.
As part of its relief assistance, the ARMM-HEART distributed food packs, school supplies, and hygiene kits to the affected families in Sultan Sa Barongis. OCD-ARMM augmented the assistance by donating1,635 pairs of slippers and 2,000 pails and water dippers.
Lawyer Kirby Abdullah, ARMM-HEART focal person, said the same assistance will also be extended to other affected municipalities. “Tuloy-tuloy ang tulong natin sa mga apektado ng pagbaha hanggang kailangan (Our assistance will continue in areas affected by the floods as long as such assistance is needed),” he said.
He said the agency’s operating fund and the region’s calamity fund will cover the necessary expenses for the relief operation. Based on area from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the downpours experienced in Maguindanao since June 24 were due to an Inter Tropical Convergence Zone.
PAGASA said that moderate to heavy rains in the region and in other parts of Mindanao will continue due to a tropical depression expected to enter the Philippines. (Bureau of Public Information)
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