Mlang MDRRMC asks SB to place town under calamity due to floods
AGRICULTURE • 17:58 PM Fri Sep 26, 2014
1,658
By:
Williamor Magbanua
Floods swept through this rice fields in Mlang (Williamor Magbanua)
MLANG,
North Cotabato (Sept. 26) -- The Mlang Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction
Management Council (MDRRMC) has urged Thursday town council to declare state of
calamity in Mlang following flash floods that destroyed vast track of rice
fields and roads.
At
least 445 hectares of rice fields in 15 low-lying villages here have submerged
during the September 13 and 24 flash floods brought about by torrential rains
which caused the Malasila and Mlang River to swell and overflowed.
Ferdinand
F. Pinol, the town’s administrator and MDRRMC designated action officer, said
close to 300 farmers have been affected.
Pinol
said of the affected rice fields, about 250 hectares had the chance for
recovery while 144 others are considered failure.”
The
Municipal Agriculture’s Office (MAO) has estimated the damages to about P1
million.
Pinol,
however, said the amount might increase since the agriculture personnel are
still conducting validations.
The
flooding also damaged village roads and caused landslides in the northern
portion of the municipality.
Pinol
said at least 122 families in Barangay Inas and Lika were displaced when waist
deep flood water enter their homes particularly those living beside the
Mlang-Matalam highway.
They
later returned home when floods subsided.
Cynthia
Biag, the town’s social welfare officer, also recommended before the MDRRMC
that the flood victims be given assistance through cash or food for work
program.
This way we can help the flood victims cushion the impact of floods,” Biag said.
Vice
Mayor Russel Abonado, town legislative body chair,said they will take up the matter during their regular
session on Monday.