Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua has assured over 61,000 families affected by floods in Maguindanao del Sur that the regional government is attending to their needs.
“Heavily affected are the towns of Pagalungan, Datu Montawal, Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Datu Piang, Datu Salibo, Sultan sa Barongis, Mangudadatu, and Gen. Salipada K. Pendatun,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.
On Monday, Macacua met with local officials in the province, received flood situation reports from disaster responders, and led the distribution of food and non-food items to some of over 61,000 families or about 306,000 individuals affected by the calamity.
The Maguindanao del Sur Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) said most of the affected families are home-based, while others were evacuated to higher grounds.
PDRRMO head Windy Anne Joy Beaty said the low-lying villages in the towns of Ampatuan, Shariff Aguak, Datu Abdullah Sangki, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Paglat, Pandag, and Mamasapano were also flooded.
Maguindanao del Sur Governor Datu Ali Midtimbang has approved the recommendation of the provincial board to place the entire province under a state of calamity due to the flooding.
The approval of the recommendation would enable the provincial government to expand relief efforts for flood victims.
Meanwhile, in Buluan town, patients and their watchers remain at the provincial capitol building as flood water near the Buluan District Hospital (BDH) compound is yet to subside.
Dr. Ariff Baguindali, chief of the Integrated Provincial Health Office-Maguindanao, said over 200 of the 300 patients were evacuated to the provincial capitol building when floods submerged the BDH wards and premises late last week. (PNA)
