100,000 affected by floods in Maguindanao towns

MANILA, Philippines – In the past week, most villages of Datu Piang town in Maguindanao have been submerged in waters. In areas close to Rio Grande de Mindanao, the floods have reached waist level.

“The rain has been relentless since Monday, June 30, causing the river to swell,” Guiper Kamaong, executive assistant of the town’s mayor told Rappler in Filipino. 

According to Kamaong, the flood has affected nearly 2,800 families in 15 villages, disrupting farming, the town’s main source of livelihood.

Watch this report below.

Seventeen other towns across Maguindanao have been experiencing flooding since June 13 due to incessant rain and thunderstorm, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (NDRRMC) reported on Friday, July 4. They are:

• Ampatuan
• Datu Abdullah Sangki
• Datu Montawal
• Datu Odin Sinsuat
• Datu Piang
• Datu Salibo
• Mother Kabuntalan
• Mamasapano
• Pagalungan
• Northern Kabuntalan 
• Rajah Buayan
• Sharif Saydona
• Sultan Sa Barongis
• Sultan Kudarat
• General Salipada K. Pendatum
• Talitay
• Buldon
• Barira

The weather condition caused Rio Grande de Mindanao and Patot River – the major rivers that snake through the affected areas – to overflow. 

Flashflood incidents were reported in Datu Piang, Datu Montawal, and Buldon on Thursday, July 3, causing the suspension of classes in the 3 towns, the NDRRMC reported. 

The flooding has affected close to 20,000 families or 100,000 people from 133 villages across the province. It also disturbed the livelihood of about 5,000 farmers, damaging more than P35.5 million worth of crops. – Rappler.com