Floods displace villagers in 2 ARMM provinces

SHARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao – More than 10,000 families in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) provinces of Maguindanao and Shariff Kabunsuan have evacuated to higher grounds due to floods spawned by torrential rains in the past few days.

The villagers are still reeling from the destruction of typhoon “Frank,” which spawned flash floods that ruined some P20 million worth of harvestable crops.

Government engineers are worried that the rising floodwaters could destroy the still unfinished P300-million Delta Bridge crossing the Rio Grande de Mindanao and connecting Cotabato City to Shariff Kabunsuan.

They estimate that about 30 tons of water lilies have accumulated under the bridge, preventing the flow of water downstream to the Moro Gulf.

ARMM Gov. Datu Zaldy Ampatuan said he has asked the Cotabato City council to pass a resolution requesting the regional government to let them use its heavy equipment in removing the water lilies.

Big rivers crisscrossing the flooded towns in Maguindanao and Shariff Kabunsuan all drain at the mouth of the Rio Grande in the western coast of Cotabato City.

Ampatuan, who is seeking reelection in the Aug. 11 regional elections, said he decided to forego his planned campaign in the two provinces to personally supervise the relief operations for the flood victims.

Ampatuan has released more than P5 million in assistance from his special purpose fund to the affected municipalities.

“What we are worried about is the plight of our farmers in Shariff Kabunsuan and Maguindanao. Even before they could start planting again for the next cropping season after the devastation caused by typhoon Frank, they have to evacuate again due to these floods,” he said.

At least 22 of the 27 barangays in Cotabato City are flooded.