Teachers of Sta. Filomena Elementary School in Makilala, Cotabato were among the stranded individuals rescued as heavy rains brought by Florita PH led to flooding on Monday, Aug. 22. | PHOTO: Makilala Hiraya/Facebook
MANILA, Philippines — The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) on Thursday declared a state of calamity following widespread flooding caused by the southwest monsoon, low pressure areas, and thunderstorms.
According to BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim through Proclamation No. 0003 the state of calamity will be in effect starting August 18 to October 31, 2022.
The proclamation read that severe widespread flooding caused by successive weather systems have been reported in large parts of Maguindanao, the Special Geographic Area, as well as Cotabato City since August 8 “increasing every day since.”
With this, Ebrahim said that through the proclamation “the declaration of State of Calamity will provide augmentation to the ongoing response operations and recovery efforts of the Bangsamoro Government to the affected communities.”
“This declaration will effectively control the prices of the basic goods and commodities for the affected areas and afford the BARMM and its LGUs (local government units) an ample latitude to utilize and appropriate funds for rescue, recovery, relief, and rehabilitation efforts of, and to continue to provide basic services to, affected populations, in accordance with the law,” it added.
Ebrahim then ordered all ministers and other government agencies to “implement and execute medical assistance, relief, and rehabilitation work in accordance with pertinent operational plans and directives.”