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COTABATO CITY (MindaNews/05 September) – The province of Maguindanao has been placed under a state of calamity due to floods spawned by low pressure areas that brought rains in many parts of the country.
In a special session Friday, the provincial board passed a resolution declaring a state of calamity after floods submerged the province’s 26 municipalities.
The provincial board held its session in Buluan town. Board member Bobby Katambak presided the session as Vice Governor Datu Lester Sinsuat was on leave.
Katambak said that based on data from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council over 180,000 individuals or around 35,000 families were already affected by the floods.
He said there was an urgent need to release the calamity fund owing to the situation of the affected residents.
Governor Esmael Mangudadatu said relief distribution has been set on Monday as the packing of goods will start today (Sept. 5).
“The calamity declaration will give us authority to release funds to address the immediate needs of our constituents,” Mangudadatu said.
The provincial government will also use the newly acquired mobile water sanitation facilities for the displaced individuals.
The facilities can purify water taken from deep wells and other local sources.
There were reports of diarrhea among evacuees in some areas like Pagalungan and Datu Montawal towns due to lack of clean water supply. (Ferdinandh B. Cabrera/MindaNews)