The frequent heavy rains last May 31 up to the 21st of June this year had caused flood in 11 municipalities in the province and displaced more than 2,000 families.

Based on the 2nd Quarter report of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, the heavy and repeated rains had caused the rivers and creeks to overflow and resulted to flood in low-lying areas nearby.

As of July 1, a total of 135,129 individuals or 30,444 families from the towns of Banisilan, Carmen, Kabacan, Matalam, Midsayap, Mlang, Pikit, Tulunan, Pigcawayan, Aleosan and Pres. Roxas were affected by the flooding.

The flood also resulted to death of 10 persons due to drowning, and damage to livestock and some properties with 113 totally damaged and 126 partially damaged houses.

Because of these, LGUs of affected municipalities, the provincial government of Cotabato and DSWD 12 provided relief assistance to the victims.

The provincial government thru PSWD distributed a total of 951 bags of rice, 116 boxes of sardines, 123 boxes of noodles, 66 water jugs, used clothes and tarpaulins, and cash assistance of P5,000 for casualties; while DSWD 12 provided 1,152 bags of rice and 1,000 family packs.

LGUs also provided the same relief goods except for President Roxas which provided mats, blankets, mosquito nets, kitchen utensils and cooking pots aside from food supply.

Supplemental Feeding

Cotabato Governor Emmylou “Lala” Taliño-Mendoza, on the other hand, has ordered to immediately provide supplemental feeding to affected school children to help sustain their nutritional needs while their families are still coping with the disaster’s social and financial effects.

This was launched last July 7 at Talitay Elementary School and Bagoinged Elementary School, both in Pikit.  The supplemental feeding was also conducted with a medical outreach which includes consultation, giving away of medicines and vitamins.  The medical outreach also benefited adults in the community.

The program which ended last July 29 benefited more than 11 thousand primary, secondary, and high school children from 33 schools identified by the Department of Education. //lqg-idcd-pgo//