Around 150 families have fled their homes due to flooding in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte.

According to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), 12 towns were affected and have suspended classes on Tuesday, October 22, 2024.

These towns include Barira, Buldon, Mother Kabuntalan, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Kabuntalan, Matanog, Northern Kabuntalan, Parang, Upi, Sultan Kudarat, Sultan Mastura, and Talitay.

“Naka-preposition pa naman ang Sultan Kudarat in case na ma-so-short sila, andito naman ang provincial government of Maguindanao del Norte anytime ready naman mag-augment ng food packs or non-food items,” PDRRMO Head, Datu Nashrullah Imam, said.

COTABATO SITUATION

Meanwhile, four towns in Cotabato were affected severely by flooding.

These are Magpet, Pigcawayan, Libungan, and Pikit. Magpet is likely to declare a state of calamity.

“Nag-meeting kahapon ang Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council nila  at nag-recommend nang mag-de-declare sila. So ita-tackle yan ngayon sa Sanguniang Bayan. Kung papasa sa Sanguniang Bayan, ang Magpet ang unang mag-de-declare ng state of calamity ngayon,” Cotabato PDRRMO Head, Engr. Arnulfo Villaruz, said.

Floodwaters have reached waist-deep and entered several houses in Pikit town.

Some vehicles were also stranded after the spillway overflowed in Barangay Batasan, Makilala town.

Up to 18 towns in the province have suspended classes on Tuesday.

The PDRRMO is still validating the exact number of affected families.

According to the Office of the Civil Defense-SOCCSKSARGEN (OCD-12), the bad weather experienced in the region and in Maguindanao del Norte is caused by the trough of Tropical Depression #KristinePH.

“It's a trough of Tropical Depression Kristine yung nararanasan po natin here in region 12... Maging alerto maging handa po tayo lagi po nating ihanda mga emergency natin bag natin at kung kinakailangang lumikas lumikas tayo at sumunod tayo sa abiso ng brgy DRRMO...,” OCD-12 Information Officer, Jorie Mae Balmediano, said.