By Edwin Fernandez/Philippine News Agency
COTABATO CITY — The North Cotabato Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) has alerted residents living near creeks, rivers and mountainous areas against possible disasters brought about by torrential rains.
The reminder was aired by Engr. Arnulfo Villaruz, North Cotabato PDRRMO officer, after torrential rains hit the province since Wednesday.
“In fact, some areas in the province, particularly the low-lying towns of Kabacan, Matalam, and Tulunan have experienced knee-deep floods on Wednesday night,” Villaruz said in a radio interview Thursday.
A 10-year-old-boy, Edmart Nacua, was hurt when a huge coconut tree toppled by strong winds fell on their house In Barangay New Cebu, President Roxas, North Cotabato.
Low-lying villages of Kidapawan City were also flooded as creeks and drainage canals overflowed.
“As a precautionary measure, education officials suspended classes at the Kabacan Central Pilot Elementary School after a knee-deep flood Wednesday night,” Villaruz said.
He also said that the PDRRMC and the municipal disaster risk reduction and management offices in North Cotabato’s 17 towns are checking and assessing the rivers, creeks, and mountains vulnerable to landslides as the basis for issuance of alerts to the public.
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