Floods submerge 16 towns in Maguindanao

Henry said though affected, most families preferred to stay at home while others sought refuge to houses of relatives living on higher grounds while waiting for the floodwater to recede. (Photo By Mike Gonzalez (TheCoffee) – English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0,)

COTABATO CITY – Floods brought by heavy rains the past several days have immersed 16 of 36 towns in knee-deep waters in Maguindanao, the provincial social welfare office reported Monday.

Myrna Jocelyn Henry, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao–Humanitarian Emergency Assistance Response Team (ARMM-HEART) information officer, said they are currently coordinating with the Maguindanao social welfare office for the simultaneous distribution of relief goods on Tuesday to the affected areas.

The towns affected included Mangudadatu (8 barangays – 3, 417 families); Shariff Saydona (5 barangays – 1, 812 families); Sultan sa Barongis (5 barangays – 1, 612 families); Sultan Kudarat (16 barangays – 4, 980 families); Ampatuan (3 barangays – 646 families); Sultan Mastura (6 barangays – 1, 014 families); Northern Kabuntalan (10 barangays – 3, 112 families); and Mother Kabuntalan (17 barangays – 3, 868 families). Also inundated were Rajah Buayan (10 barangays – 1, 912 families); Buluan (5 barangays – 973 families); Mamasapano (13 barangays – 4, 523 families); Datu Salibo (17 barangays – 3, 281 families); Datu Paglat (3 barangays – 1, 702 families); Datu Paglas (1 barangay – 189 families); Datu Piang (3 barangays – 300 families); and Pandag (8 barangays – 1, 932 families).

Henry said though affected, most families preferred to stay at home while others sought refuge to houses of relatives living on higher grounds while waiting for the floodwater to recede.

A Low Pressure Area caused by Tropical Storm Paolo that affected most parts of Visayas and Mindanao last week triggered the heavy rains.