By Alec Go
A state of calamity has been declared in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) from Aug. 18 to Oct. 31 this year due to “widespread flooding caused by successive weather systems.”
Based on Proclamation No. 3 signed by BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim, several parts of Maguindanao, Special Geographic Area, and Cotabato City have been experiencing flooding since Aug. 8 that has increased since then.
With the declaration, all ministries and concerned government agencies are set to “implement and execute medical assistance, relief, and rehabilitation work in accordance with pertinent operational plans and directives.”
This will also augment the government’s response and recovery operations to affected sectors, as well as control basic commodities’ prices.
The BARMM said the majority of those affected are families in low-lying areas of the region.
“There is great anticipation for an exponential increase in the affected population upon consolidation of all damage assessment reports from LGUs and relevant agencies, and with the expectation of escalated situation when the water eventually makes its way to the Ligawasamn Marsh and floods the LGUs surrounding it,” it noted.
The Bangsamoro Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (BDRRMC) recommended the state of calamity declaration for three months following an emergency meeting on Aug. 10 with other government offices. – gb
