800 displaced as LPA spawns heavy rains, flood in Tawi-Tawi
By Nonoy Lacson
ZAMBOANGA CITY – The local government of Turtle Islands in Tawi-Tawi province is seeking the help of the Tawi-Tawi provincial government and of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region In Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to provide the people of the town with food and other prime commodities in the wake of heavy rains and flood that has hit the city this week.
Turtle Islands municipal Mayor Mohammad Faizal H. Jamalul, on Friday, said many of his constituents continued to contend with "knee-deep rainwater flood" due to the heavy downpour of rain brought by the low-pressure area (LPA) early this week.
Jamalul said about 800 people, or about 159 families, fled their homes and are now temporarily staying at an elementary school in Taganak island, one of seven island barangays comprising the Turtle Islands town in Tawi-Tawi province.
He added that most residents of Taganak island were experiencing shortage in the supply of food and other prime commodities.
“Even the local government here is experiencing a limited food supply for our relieved assistance to be given for those who left their homes,” Jamalul said.
He also confirmed that local residents of the island could not cross the Philippine-Malaysia border due to big waves until, Friday.
This bolstered the lockdown imposed by the local government of Turtle Islands and Malaysia aim to prevent the entry of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) variant.
Jamalul appealed to the BARMM and to the Tawi-Tawi provincial government for help particularly on the supply of basic commodities for his constituents.
According to Jamalul, flood rose to knee-deep in Taganak island due to continuous heavy rain these past few days, prompting many of his constituents to seek higher ground.
The heavy rains that hit the island were spawned by the low pressure area (LPA) and the “tail end of a frontal system” which also brought floods to other parts of Mindanao this week.
“This is the first time that our people here had experienced almost knee-deep rain flood waters which is why most of them immediately fled to safer grounds,” the mayor told The Manila Bulletin on Friday.