OCD, PCSO send relief packs to Maguindanao flood victims
Published May 25, 2025 01:37 pm
(Photo: OCD)
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) transported thousands of relief packages to victims of severe flooding in Maguindanao del Sur on Sunday, May 25.
OCD Administrator Usec. Ariel Nepomuceno and PCSO General Manager Mel Robles supervised the loading of 2,500 units of “ChariTimba” relief packages into a C-130 aircraft by the Philippine Air Force (PAF) at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City at dawn.
Each package contains rice, instant noodles, canned goods, and bottled water.
Meanwhile, the GMA Kapuso Foundation donated 7,876 kilos of food packs including rice, canned goods, sardines, and noodles.
“Our initial deliveries are focused on the main areas—particularly the communities and evacuation centers. We also need the support of local government units, especially in those remote barangays that can be reached by land transportation,” Nepomuceno shared.
For isolated areas that cannot be reached by land travel, the OCD has requested assistance from the PAF for airlifting.
Since May 14, Mindanao has been experiencing cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms due to the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ).
This resulted in flashfloods in several areas in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), affecting 316,200 individuals or 63,240 families in Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, and Basilan.
Meanwhile, 12,200 individuals were also affected by flooding in Zamboanga Peninsula (Region 9), Davao (Region 11), and Soccsksargen (Region 12).
Four people were killed due to drowning: one each in Zamboanga del Sur, Davao Occidental, Sarangani, and Cotabato.
“For those in evacuation centers, we will ensure they are assisted immediately. For the remote barangays, we rely on local government units to help us deliver aid. It’s a collective effort,” Nepomuceno said.