More than 8,000 families in the adjoining towns in Maguindanao and North Cotabato provinces have been displaced by floods that hit low-lying communities, disaster officials said Friday.
In this town alone, at least 3,000 families (about 15,000 individuals) in low-lying communities have been affected by floods when the Malitubog-Maridagao River overflowed due to frequent downpours in the northern part of North Cotabato, Bukidnon, and Agusan del Sur.
Residents in Barangay Talitay here have to bring their valuables atop their homes or roofing to save them from the floodwater.
Tahira Kalantongan, Pikit municipal disaster officer, said the local government has already extended emergency aid to affected families who preferred to stay home and wait for the water to subside.
Floodwater rose to neck level on Wednesday and Thursday but is currently receding.
Severely affected were the low-lying villages of Inug-ug, Bagoinged, Talitay, and Barungis.
North Cotabato Governor Nancy Catamco has ordered the provincial disaster office to extend food and non-food items to affected families here.
Meanwhile, In the town of Datu Montawal in Maguindanao, about 5,000 families (25,000 people) are affected by floods in all its 11 barangays.
“Many stayed home and waited for the water to recede, many are used to it,” Balumol Cadiding, Datu Montawal disaster officer, said.
He noted that the town government also extended food packs distributed to each home of the affected families.
“This is a recurring calamity in our town, every time there’s a heavy downpour in Agusan, Bukidnon, and North Cotabato, our town will automatically be underwater,” Cadiding said in a radio interview Friday.
The massive Tunggol River separates this town from adjacent Datu Montawal municipality which overflowed due to the heavy rains.
Source: Philippines News Agency
