11 villages in Cotabato flooded; crop losses at P2M

KIDAPAWAN CITY—Floodwaters that submerged 11 of 24 villages in Kabacan, Cotabato province, on Wednesday destroyed at least P2 million worth of palay and seedlings in 600 hectares of farms in the town.

David Don Saure, municipal disaster risk reduction and management officer, said the floods, triggered by a heavy downpour that started on Tuesday night, flattened newly transplanted rice seedlings and hit some farms scheduled for harvest next week.

“Though there are some that survived, especially those which are already due for harvest, the value of the grains will greatly be reduced once these reach the market,” Saure said.

He said floods devastated the rice-producing villages of Bangilan, Malanduage, Cuyapon, Upper Paatan, Poblacion, Katidtuan, Dagupan, Salapungan, Malamote, Pedtad and Sangadong.

Hundreds who fled at the height of the flooding returned to their villages early on Thursday to repair their houses and other structures damaged by the floods.

At least 500 families in Barangay Upper Paatan and 241 families in Barangay Katidtuan evacuated to safer grounds on Tuesday and Wednesday. —WILLIAMOR A. MAGBANUA