Philippines – Floods Affect Thousands in Maguindanao and Cotabato

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) in the Philippines is reporting that over 1,000 people have been affected by flooding in Matalam, Cotabato Province since 06 June.

Meanwhile thousands of people in neighbouring Maguindanao province have experienced flooding over the past few weeks after persistent rainfall increased river levels in the area.

Cotabato Province

NDRRMC said that on 06 June 2017, several districts (barangays) in the Municipality of Matalam, Cotabato Province, were flooded due to heavy rainfall in the area which started at 15:00 was brought about by the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) which has also affected other parts of Mindanao island.

In Matalam affected areas were still submerged in flood waters the next day. The flooding has damaged properties and crops, in particular rice fields. A total of 265 families (1,274 people) were affected in 4 barangays.

Ongoing Floods in Maguindanao

NDRRMC also reports that persistent rain since early May in Maguindanao Province has caused several rivers to overflow, in particular the Pulangi River, Mindanao River and Ligawasan Marsh.

Local media reported that more than 2,000 families in the town of Datu Salibo in Maguindanao were affected by floods after the Butalo River overflowed its banks amid heavy rains as far back as 16 May.

More recently, 4,000 families have been affected by floods in Kabuntalan, according to Philippines News Agency PNA.

Since then the flooding has continued and the numbers affected have grown. NDRRMC said that, as of 08 June, flooding in Maguindanao had affected 227,475 people in 17 municipalities in total. Almost 30,000 have been affected in Datu Odin Sinsuat and 22,000 in Sultan sa Barongis.

Nearly 30 schools have suspended classes due to flooded buildings. Three houses have been damaged in Northern Kabuntalan. Flooding has also damaged crops, with over 1,500 farmers affected.

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