Maguindanao under state of calamity due to floods

The province of Maguindanao has been placed under a state of calamity after several of its towns were flooded due to continuous downpour, its vice governor said Friday. "We have declared a state of calamity in the province of Maguindanao. We will be disseminating copies of the resolution and we will be forwarding it to the DSWD so that help may be given to our constituents," Vice Governor Datu Dustin Mastura said in Filipino during an an interview aired over GMA News TV's Balitanghali on Friday.

Mastura said reports from the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) indicate that at least 10 of the 36 Maguindano towns and 89,000 people (as per OCD data) to 136,000 people (as per DSWD data) have been affected by flooding. Included in the flooded areas are Sultan Kudarat, Sultan Mastura, Sultan sa Barongis, Rajah Buayan, Pagalungan, Datu Montawal, Northern Kabuntalan, Paglat, Datu Saudi-Ampatuan, and Datu Salibo. Mastura said they have also received reports of flooding in Datu Piang and General Salipada K. Pendatun. "It rained yesterday and it's still raining today so we will expect that the towns will remain flooded," he said. Mastura said that they are now distributing rice and canned goods to the victims of the flood. He likewise said that they have issued a resolution asking that the freeze order on the ARMM funds be lifted. "Marerelease naman po natin yung pondong kakailanganin (We will be able to release the needed funds)," he said. — Kimberlya Jane Tan/RSJ, GMA News