Flooded towns in N. Cotabato declared in 'state of calamity'

COTABATO CITY – The provincial board of North Cotabato has declared six towns in the first district in a state of calamity after floods, spawned by three days of rain, struck the rice-producing areas.

Some 1,000 families have been displaced, social welfare and agriculture officials said.

More than 8,500 hectares of agricultural lands planted with rice, corn and vegetables have been damaged. Agriculture officials placed the cost of damage at about P30 million.

The towns were Pigcawayan, Alamada, Libungan, Midsayap, Aleosan and Pikit, collectively known as the Palma Alliance.

The alliance, an association of local government units that pooled resources in helping one another in infrastructure development, was recently recognized by the government through its Galing Pook Awards.

Since Monday, the provincial social welfare and development office has been distributing hundreds of sacks of rice to the displaced families.

Virgilita Guilaran, provincial social welfare officer, said calamity funds had already been allotted.

The worst hit town was Pigcawayan with at least 40 percent of its more than 30 villages flooded since Friday.

In a session on Tuesday, Vice Gov. Manny Piñol urged Gov. Jesus Sacdalan and town officials to release part of their calamity funds.

Piñol also urged the provincial health office to initiate steps to prevent the spread of diseases.