FLOOD TRANSPORT. A payloader served as the lone transporter of local government employees of Pagalungan, Maguindanao del Sur on Thursday (June 29, 2023). The municipal hall grounds have been underwater since Monday, although the water has receded a bit as of Thursday morning. (Photo courtesy of MILG-BARMM)
COTABATO CITY – Two towns in North Cotabato and Maguindanao del Sur provinces have been placed under a state of calamity following floods that damaged crops, infrastructure, and homes.
In North Cotabato, the Pikit town council approved Thursday a resolution placing the area under a state of calamity due to the enormous effects of floods spawned by weather disturbances early this week.
Grace Cadungog, municipal social welfare and development officer, said the declaration aims to speed up the delivery of aid to the flood victims.
Rygel Cabilao, municipal disaster risk reduction and management (MDRRM) officer, said the floods affected about 1,100 farmers and damaged almost 2,000 hectares of corn and rice fields in 12 of its 42 villages.
Damaged corn crops were estimated at PHP25.1 million, impacting about 700 corn farmers. The cost of damages to palay in 360 hectares was also estimated to cost PHP25 million, affecting more than 600 farmers.
Cadungog said a total of 14,226 families have been affected, with one fatality due to drowning.
Cadungog and Cabilao said relief operations are ongoing for the internally displaced families in evacuation centers and those who have returned home when the water subsided.
In Maguindanao de Sur, the local government of Pagalungan also placed the area under a state of calamity Wednesday after all of its 12 villages were submerged by floods.
Pagalungan Vice Mayor Abdilah Mamasabulod said with the town’s present situation, the MDRRM's Quick Response Fund can be used to provide assistance and other intervention to flood victims.
An estimated 9,000 families or about 45,000 individuals in the 12 villages are affected, he said.
The Maridagao, Malitubog, Pulangi and Kabacan rivers traversing the area have overflowed submerging communities near its course leading to the Liguasan marshland in Maguindanao Sur.
No fatalities so far were reported in the Pagalungan floods. (PNA)
