BARMM declares state of calamity

COTABATO CITY — The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao on Thursday declared a state of calamity in the region after three of its component areas were severely affected by floods.

The BARMM government released the declaration issued by Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim after most parts of Maguindanao, the region’s Special Geographic Area in North Cotabato and this city were submerged by floods.

“I hereby declare a state of calamity in the entire region from 18 August to 31 October 2022 due to widespread flooding caused by successive weather systems,” Ebrahim said.

“The declaration of calamity will provide augmentation to the ongoing response operations and recovery efforts of BARMM,” he said.

At least 20 of the 37 barangays here have been flooded, affecting thousands of residents in low-lying villages. In the SGA, at least 80 percent of 63 BARMM villages in North Cotabato were underwater for the past 30 days.

On Wednesday, the Maguindanao provincial board placed the entire province under a state of calamity due to floods that submerged 105 villages in 13 of its towns.

Maguindanao Vice Governor and Sangguniang Panlalawigan presiding officer Bai Ainee Sinsuat said some 46,922 families or 234,610 individuals in province’s 36 towns were also affected.

BARMM has yet to release the total number of barangays and residents affected in the region as these were being validated and counter-checked.

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