RDRRMC, ARMM-HEART respond to flood aftermath

COTABATO CITY --- The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) government led by Governor Mujiv S. Hataman, together with the Humanitarian Emergency Action and Response Team (HEART), provided Tuesday last week relief aids in two Maguindanao towns that have been severely flooded following heavy rains spawned by the low pressure area  and tail end of a cold front.

The relief team distributed rice, canned goods, blankets, and kitchen provisions to the families displaced by flooding.

Hadja PombaenKaron Kader, Assistant Secretary of the ARMM’s Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), said some 205 barangays in the region have been affected by the weather disturbance.

“A total of 27,912 families or 139,560 individuals have been affected by the flooding in the provinces of Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur,” she relayed.

DSWD-Maguindanao reported 23 affected barangays in Maguindanao --- 12 in Pagalungan and 11 in Datu Montawal. Many of the affected families have moved and stayed beside the national highway cruising the two towns.

“We see the need to provide humanitarian aid to these affected families,” said Hataman.

In Lanao del Sur alone, the weather disturbance affected 177 barangays covering 10 municipalities --- Bubong, Ditsaan Ramain, Kapai, Maguing, Taraka, Masiu, Buadipuso Buntong, Tamparan, Poona Bayabao, and Lumba Bayabao.

Four damaged houses have been listed upon assessment and validation conducted by the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council-ARMM along with the Office of Civil Defense-ARMM.  

Two houses in Barangay Bulit, Datu Montawal which are made of light materials were partially damaged due to strong water current. In Lanao del Sur one house, also made of light materials, was burned due to contact with electrical wirings soaked in flood water, and another house was totally damaged due to flood water current.

The DSWD-ARMM also augmented 3,220 pieces of blankets (malong), 1,610 pieces of hygiene kits, and 3,110 pieces of food packs to the affected families of Pagalungan and Datu Montawal.

Flood-affected municipalities in Lanao del Sur were also augmented with 3,170 food packs and 1,000 sacks of rice.

The OCD-ARMM distributed 100 pieces of temporary shelter (trapal) to the affected families of Barangay Tunggol in Datu Montawal and provided logistical support to the RDRMMC.

The local government of Pagalungan also served 500 families in Barangay Bagoinged. Food packs for Barangays Kudal and unserved families of Bagoinged, Damalasak, and other remaining barangays in Pagalungan were also set to be served as of this posting.

Other stakeholders that extended aid included TV5 Alagang Kapatid Foundation and SL Agri-tech where they gave 500 bags of rice which consisted of two kilos per bag. (GILMHAR A. LAO - MINDANAO EXPOSE’)