SULTAN SA BARONGIS, Maguindanao – At least 25,000 persons or close to 5,000 families, have been affected and displaced by floodwaters, here. The town mayor has declared the town under a state of calamity, and has blamed a ‘failed’ flood control project for the flooding.
The town has been submerged in water for almost a week now as Kapingkong River and Ala River have overflowed and redirected the volume of water in several communities in this municipality. Mayor Angas blamed a flood control project that failed to do its work in controlling flood water from the Ala River. He said a banana plantation constructed a dike to prevent the floods from reaching the banana plantation but what happened was it threatened Sultan sa Barongis.
Angas said the tailend of the dike triggered more flood water toward Sultan sa Barongis. “The water used to pass through Barangay Tinu-migues, now it goes directly to more villages,” he lamented. In some parts during the worst rains, only roofs of buildings could be seen as dozens of houses and infrastructure were damaged and wiped out.
Five barangays were severely hit, including the town poblacion of Barurao. Some residents here opted to sleep on the streets, fearing they might be trapped by the abrupt rise of flood water while sleeping at home as continuous rains fell until Monday.
Arah Salik, a resident, said flood water continues to rise. “We have no more place to stay in our village, thus we’d rather stay here by the roadside,” he added.
(MindaNews)
