4,000 Families Displaced by Flooding in Maguindanao del Sur Town

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato — At least 4,000 families in 10 villages of Sultan sa Barongis, Maguindanao del Sur have been affected by widespread flooding that began on July 1 due to heavy rains. According to Engr. Haris Ukay, head of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), the affected barangays include Angkayamat, Barurao, Darampua, Papakan, Tugal, Gadungan, Bulod, Tukanakuden, and Masulot. As of July 3, the number of affected families reached 4,375. The floods have severely impacted the town's agriculture sector, a primary source of income for many residents, with farms submerged and crops damaged. Transportation has also become difficult as several roads in low-lying areas remain flooded, forcing many residents to use boats to navigate through submerged communities and reach nearby areas. Schools, mosques, and barangay halls, among other government facilities, have also been affected by the inundation. No deaths or missing persons have been reported so far. Health workers are monitoring for potential diseases that may emerge due to the prolonged flooding. The local government unit (LGU) has commenced the distribution of initial relief packs to some affected barangays and is continuing its damage assessment. Ukay attributed the widespread flooding primarily to heavy siltation in the town's waterways, which impede water flow. The municipality acts as a catch basin for large volumes of water flowing from neighboring South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat during periods of intense rainfall. The Sultan sa Barongis LGU has appealed to the Maguindanao del Sur provincial government, the Bangsamoro government, and national agencies, including the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), for the provision of heavy equipment for dredging and clearing rivers and waterways. The goal is to improve water flow and mitigate future flood risks.