Over 80K affected by floods in Maguindanao

MANILA, Philippines - The number of persons affected by the flooding in Maguindanao has risen to more than 80,000, a disaster management official said Tuesday.

In a report, Office of Civil Defense – Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao director Manuel Ochotorena said a total of 80,040 individuals or 16,008 families in 83 barangays have been affected by the flood.

The flood, which started June 13, inundated 13 towns of the province namely Mamasapano, Datu Salibo, Shariff Saydona, Datu Piang, Sultan sa Barongis, Rajah Buayan, Datu Abdullah Sangki, Mother Kabuntalan, Northern Kabuntalan, Ampatuan, Datu Montawal, Pagalungan and Datu Odin Sinsuat.

There were no reported casualties or stranded passengers during the incident. The flood did not disrupt the classes in the province but at least five schools have been affected.

Production loss caused by the flood reached 12,505.58 metric tons of crops worth P34.4-million. The bad weather also damaged 6,090 hectares of rice, corn and other agricultural products.

“Bridges and roads are passable on the main highway but light vehicles could not pass on affected barangays,” Ochotorena said.

Electricity and water supply in flood-hit areas remained normal.

Ochotorena clarified that there was no declaration of state of calamity in flooded areas contrary to previous media reports.

As of Tuesday, the government has distributed food packs to 4,400 families or 22,000 individuals in Sultan sa Barongis, Rajah Buayan, Mamasapano, Datu Abdullah Sangki, Northern Kabuntalan and Mother Kabuntalan.