COTABATO CITY—At least five persons drowned in North Cotabato and Maguindanao after torrential rains hit Mindanao the past few days, disaster officials said.
At least 10 municipalities surrounding the Liguasan marshland in Maguindanao have been flooded for a week now.
Last week, three persons drowned in Libungan and Pikit, both in North Cotabato due to strong currents on rivers and cut-off channels.
Roberto Argoncillo and his brother Rommel drowned in Libungan River in North Cotabato. Their remains were fished off the Liguasan marshland.
Rudy Aperdo of Pikit, North Cotabato, also drowned while crossing the Pagalungan river.
Ugka Unos and his brother Ramos also drowned in Malitubog River in Carmen town in North Cotabato. The two—along with another man, boat operator Magki Katog—were cruising the Malitubog river on Sunday when they were washed away by rampaging waters.
The Unos brothers’ remains were found downstream in Pikit. Katog survived, officials said.
The floodwater has destroyed rice and corn plants in Carmen, Pikit and Kabacan in North Cotabato and Pagalungan and Datu Montawal in Maguindanao.
Social Welfare Secretary Pombain Karon Kadir of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao said about 8,000 families or 56,000 persons were affected by flooding in Pagalungan and Montawal.
Fifteen elementary and high school compounds were flooded forcing education officials to delay the opening of classes.
In Kabuntalan, Maguindanao, Mayor Ramil Dilangalen said six houses were washed away by floodwaters in Barangay Gayunga on Saturday.
Five schools in remote Kabuntalan town situated beside Rio Grande de Mindanao were also flooded.
In Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat, about 1,000 of the more than 1,400 families from Barangay Kuyog were evacuated after floodwater from Alla River hit the village.
The affected families, mostly farmers, are now housed at Barangay Sadsalan gymnasium.
Portions of the national highway in Sultan Kudarat was closed to traffic Monday morning due to floods.