DAVAO CITY – Flood from heavy rain swamped low-lying barangays in Pigcawayan, North Cotabato on Tuesday, September 19.
Data from the office of acting Mayor Niel Jake Casi showed that as of 8 a.m. on Wednesday, September 20, flooding affected 2,065 individuals in Barangays Anick, Balogo, Buluan, Bulocaon, Capayuran, North Manuangan, New Igbaras Poblacion 1, and Poblacion 2. Over 100 families have evacuated to safer grounds.
Municpal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office chief Romeo Capao-an said they have initiated the forced evacuation of some families in riverside communities on Monday, September 18, due to swelling of the river.
Capao-an added floodwaters rose further on Tuesday night, September 19, due to continuous heavy rain earlier that day due to the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).
Low-lying Barangays Balogo, Buluan, Bulucaon, Capayuran, North Manuangan, Poblacion 1, and Poblacion 2 were submerged on Tuesday night as nearby river systems breached their banks.
Almost a year ago, 28 out of 40 barangays in the rice-producing town were submerged in floodwaters, the worst in its history.
Pigcawayan sits on a plain at the foot of mountain ranges that divide the provinces of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, and North Cotabato.
Several small river systems that cut through the town’s rice fields drain toward the Liguasan Marsh which also serves as catch basin of river systems in Central Mindanao.
Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer Danica Luciano said displaced returned to their homes on Wednesday morning.
"Last night, we have already distributed hygiene kits and sleeping kits to the displaced families," Luciano added.
Luciano said that they will extend food aid to affected families with the additional support from the Department of Social Welfare and Development Regional Office.
She recalled that the flooding in Barangay Bolocauon started on Monday afternoon when the water level in nearby Liguasan Marsh rose.
The MSWD officer lamented that the flooding is getting worse in her town. "We have not experienced this in the past," she said.
Sources from Pigcawayan said that most of the farmers are still in land preparation stage. Thus, the damage to rice farms could be minimal this time compared to last year's flooding.
In neighboring town of Libungan, floodwaters breached the portion of the Davao-Cotabato Highway in Barangays Sinawingan and Ulamian on Tuesday afternoon.
Flooding temporarily hampered the flow of traffic especially for light vehicles.
Public school teacher Gilbert Placambo posted an open letter on his Facebook account appealing to local officials to address the perennial flooding in Barangay Baguer.
"For too long, our place has borne the brunt of nature's fury. Year after year, heavy rains transform our streets into rivers and our homes into islands. Our lives have become a never-ending cycle of mopping up, seeking shelter, and hoping for rescue. It's a story we know too well," Placambo lamented.
"While we appreciate the occasional food packs and assistance offered by our local government during these trying times, we can't help but wonder: Isn't it time for a more lasting solution?"
Residents blamed perennial flooding in the area to the nearby poultry compound which reportedly blocked the natural waterway.
Placambo noted that flooding is not a seasonal inconvenience as it is a chronic crisis that demands attention. "We are not content with temporary relief; we yearn for a concrete and long-term solution that ensures our safety, dignity, and well-being."