DAVAO CITY – Three towns in Maguindanao del Sur have been placed under state of calamity due to massive flooding that has affected at least 300,000 individuals.
FLOODED Datu Piang town proper. (Datu Piang MDRRMO screenshot)
A report from the Bangsamoro Rapid Emergency Action on Disaster Incidence of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao said the towns of Ampatuan, Datu Piang, and Mamasapano in Maguindanao del Sur declared a state of calamity as many barangays remain flooded.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that all the 16 barangays of Datu Piang were flooded amid heavy rains in the province due to combined effects of the Intertropical Convergence Zone and low-pressure area (LPA) since May 14.
According to reports, the flooding in the town proper was due to the swelling of the nearby Rio Grande de Mindanao.
Other towns in the province affected by flooding are Datu Abdullah Sangki, Datu Anggal Midtimbang, Datu Salibo, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Datu Hoffer Ampatuan, Guindulungan, Shariff Aguak, Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Sultan sa Barongis, and Talayan.
Also affected were the towns of Datu Odin Sinsuat and Talitay in Maguindanao del Norte.
These towns sit on the periphery of the 200,000-hectare Ligawasn Marsh that serves as the catch basin of the Mindanao river systems.
Lamitan City in Basilan was also hit by flooding, according to Bangsamoro READi.
As of 2 p.m. on May 22, the NDRRMC said 135 barangays have been affected by flooding, 129 from Maguindanao del Norte.
Most of these towns are still flooded. Flooding in only few towns have subsided or receded as heavy rains continue in the region.
At least 6,000 affected persons are still in different evacuation centers.
Flooding damaged almost 2,000 hectares of agricultural crops.
The Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) is distributing food packs, clean water, medicines, sleeping mats, and hygiene kits to affected residents.