Maguindanao declared under state of calamity

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Maguindanao was declared under a state of calamity due to widespread flooding that has displaced at least 350,000 people in 16 towns since September 19, Governor Esmael Mangudadatu said Thursday.

Mangudadatu said the declaration would enable the provincial government to speed up the delivery of food and other assistance to about 50,000 families displaced by the floods in the towns of Buluan, Datu Paglat, SK Pendatun, Mangudadatu, Datu Paglas, Sultan sa Barongis, Rajah Buayan, Datu Odin, Northern Kabuntalan, Montawal, Pagalungan, Mother Kabuntalan, Sultan Kudarat, Talitay and Datu Piang and another town he did not name.

Mangudadatu said four people have been confirmed dead since the onset of floods, caused by heavy rains and overflowing rivers clogged by silt water hyacinths.

“Our local officials are monitoring the situation,” he said, adding that health teams were also dispatched to various evacuation centers.

Mangudadatu said classes remained suspended province-wide.

In some areas of the province, flood waters rose so high that an average person would be completely submerged even if he stood up, he said.

Meanwhile, Mangudadatu said civilian and military volunteers continued clearing major rivers of water hyacinths to hasten the flow of water out to sea.

But he admitted that even if this was done, the province would have a hard time recovering from flood damage.

“Fish cages, corn and rice up for harvest were destroyed. We are still assessing the total damage to crops and properties,” Mangudadatu said.