20 villages in Cotabato still flooded

MANILA, Philippines - Twenty villages remained flooded in Cotabato City following continuous heavy rains since Tuesday, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said yesterday.

As of yesterday, the NDCC said 30,000 families were directly affected by floodwaters that also swept through the city’s major thoroughfares – Quezon Avenue, Sinsuat Avenue, Julaino Avenue and Santos street.

“The floodwaters are now gradually receding. Around 30,000 families were affected but no evacuation took place. No casualties were reported and there was no significant damage to the city’s infrastructure and agriculture,” NDCC administrator Glenn Rabonza said.

He said local disaster teams are now conducting a damage assessment while emergency response units are still on standby should there be a need for massive evacuation and rescue operations.

The Cotabato City government, according to Rabonza, is ready to release P10.5 million from its calamity fund for relief, rehabilitation and other emergency services.

In Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, some 10,000 families in 10 low-lying villages were also displaced by heavy flooding.