MANILA, Philippines - Residents of 22 towns in Maguindanao that remain flooded due to weeks of continuous rains have expressed alarm over the apparent shortage of food in affected areas.
The floods have displaced some 49,615 families composed of 247,428 individuals.
Classes have been suspended in the flooded towns and villages, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) reported yesterday. The National Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has yet to report the total number of affected students.
The NDRRMC, in a belated report, said a total of 185 barangays and 22 municipalities remained submerged in floodwaters due to heavy rains spawned by the low-pressure area (LPA) and the inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ) affecting Mindanao since last July 21.
“We are running out of food. We could not go out because of… floodwaters (three feet deep),†a resident from one of the 17 flooded villages of Sharif Aguak town said in a radio interview.
The newly constructed municipal hall is also underwater, she said, adding that the number of affected families as reported by the NDRRMC is a far cry from the actual number of people.
She said boats, instead of the usual motor vehicles, are now plying flooded roads.
Among the towns that remain flooded are Sultan Kudarat, Sultan Mastura, Pagalungan, Datu Montawal, Sultan sa Barongis, Mother Kabuntalan, Northern Kabuntalan, Datu Piang, Mamasapano, Sharif Aguak, Datu Salibo, Shariff Saydona, Ampatuan, Datu Abdulla Sangki, Raja Buayan, Datu Paglas, Gen SK Pendatun, Buluan, Pandag, Mangungudatu, Datu Odin Sinsuat and Datu Saudi Ampatuan.
Aside from continuing heavy rains, flooding is worsened by the accumulation of water hyacinths along the Rio Grande de Mindanao.