Sarangani, S. Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat under state of calamity

The provinces of Sarangani, South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat were placed under a state of calamity in the wake of heavy weekend rains from typhoon Butchoy. (international name Rammasun). The massive low-pressure area brought in rain and wind throughout an entire week.

In Sarangani province, two deaths have been reported in the town of Glan. Flood waters carried the victims away on May 9.

More than 50 families evacuated from four barangays in Maitum, Sa rangani due to flash floods. On May 8 seven barangays in a neighboring town were also hit by flood waters. More than 130 families have been affected directly by the floodwater.

The BINHI sa Panaghiusa sa Sarangani, a peasant organization, reported that eight houses were  destroyed and washed away by the waters of Pangi River as heavy rains poured for hours when Butchoy entered northeastern Mindanao.

Meanwhile, Maitum’s neighboring town Kiamba also experienced heavy flooding on Thursday, affecting seven barangays.

Hectares of rice and coconut plantations were reported flooded. Some hectares of corn farms were  damaged as floodwater brought down logs from the mountains.

Three other barangays in Maitum near the Pangi River were also affected.

At least seven (7) barangays also in Lake Cebu, and T’boli were affected by the flashfloods. In April, the entire province of South Cotabato has been declared under a state of calamity as well due to flashfloods and rice black bug infestations that destroyed hundreds of hectares of farmlands. The towns of Polomolok, Tupi, Surallah, and Sto. Niño were declared under a state of calamity due to black bugs and  flashfloods brought about by heavy rains..

Apart from black bugs and flashfloods, a tornado also hit the town of Tupi, destroying houses and hundreds of hectares of papaya..

The towns of Lambayong and Esperanza are underwater, with floods destroying rice fields, and rendering kilometers of national highway linking Sultan Kudarat and Maguindanao impassable.

Three footbridges and hectares of rice fields and corn fields were inundated in Surallah,, T’boli and Banga in South Cotabato after the Allah river overflowed.

Reference
Elviza Avila-Amante
Disaster Response Center (DIRECT-SoCSKSARGEN)
Purok 7, Ladol, Alabel, Sarangani Province
Telephone Number: 083-304-8278
Email address: directgsc@yahoo.com