990AM: Relief operations continue for those affected by Mindanao floods

[jwplayer mediaid=”16537″]DSWD Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman says relief operations for families affected by Mindanao floods continue

MANILA, Philippines – Relief operations continue for families affected by floods in Cotabato and Maguindanao, Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman told Radyo Inquirer Monday.

Soliman said during the radio interview that 40 evacuation centers were still open for those affected by the floods in Cotabato and Maguindanao. She revealed that in Cotabato City alone, 2,302 houses have been “totally submerged” while 2,266 more homes shared the same fate in Pikit, North Cotabato.

The DSWD secretary stated that the Department of Education had also agreed to open up schools for the evacuees in order to decongest some of the evacuation centers.

Soliman explained that 3,000 sacks of rice have been brought to Maguindanao and that they have also been coordinating for help to be given to Cotabato through its local government units. Donations which came in the form of clothing, mats and food have also been distributed to the families in the evacuation centers.

She added that the removal of water hyacinths clogging the Rio Grande de Mindanao was on-going.

Authorities have recently claimed that heavy rains that triggered flooding in Cotabato and Maguindanao were made worse by the thick vegetation that blocked the flow of water to the sea.