Massive Flooding Hits Maguindanao del Sur Communities
Since May 14, heavy rains caused by the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) have led to massive flooding affecting at least 78,000 individuals in the low-lying towns of Maguindanao del Sur, located within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). This large-scale flooding has disrupted lives across several barangays, with local authorities and disaster management teams closely monitoring the situation.
According to reports from disaster response agencies dated May 17, the flooding impacted 78,190 people from 47 barangays in the towns of Ampatuan, Datu Abdullah Sangki, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Shariff Aguak, and Shariff Saydona Mustapha. Among these, Ampatuan recorded the highest number of affected residents, totaling 24,930. Furthermore, initial reports indicate that a landslide damaged three houses in Ampatuan, though validation efforts are ongoing.
Geographical Factors Exacerbate Flooding
These affected towns lie on the outskirts of the vast Ligawasan Marsh, a 200,000-hectare wetland that spans Cotabato, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, and Sultan Kudarat provinces. The marsh acts as a natural catch basin for waterways draining from the mountainous areas of Bukidnon and Sultan Kudarat. However, local experts explain that recurring floods are worsened by heavy silt deposits accumulating in the Ligawasan Marsh and its connected river systems.
Damage to Infrastructure and Agriculture
Over the past weekend, officials reported that a wooden bridge in Barangay Bagumbong, Mamasapano town, was damaged by the floodwaters. This destruction has significantly affected the mobility of local residents. Additionally, hundreds of hectares of farmland in Sitio Talisawa, Datu Abdullah Sangki, where corn, rice, peanuts, and other crops are grown, were submerged, threatening local food production and livelihoods.
Authorities are still assessing the full extent of damages to both infrastructure and agriculture. Meanwhile, disaster response teams have intensified their efforts to evaluate and assist affected communities.
Coordinated Response and Damage Assessment
The Office of Civil Defense in BARMM, along with military units and public affairs offices, conducted aerial surveys over the weekend to gauge the flood’s impact on the hardest-hit areas in Maguindanao del Sur. These coordinated efforts aim to provide accurate data that will guide relief operations and recovery plans.
Local community leaders and officials continue to call for attention to the underlying issues contributing to the flooding. They emphasize the need for long-term solutions to address silt buildup in the Ligawasan Marsh and improve flood management systems in the region.
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