So Cotabato mulls declarating state of calamity

KORONADAL CITY -- The South Cotabato provincial disaster risk reduction and management council has recommended the declaration of state of calamity of the province following flash floods that affected at least six towns and a city, destroyed bridges and flood control dikes.In a meeting Thursday, PDRRMC members, led by South Cotabato Gov. Daisy Fuentes, has discussed the possibility of putting the province under state of calamity to allow the use of calamity funds in attending to the needs of affected families and rehabilitation of affected infrastructure.The death toll in the flash floods that hit Region 12 on Wednesday and Thursday rose to four, disaster officials today said. Five other civilians were injured in flash floods and landslides while more than 4,000 families have been affected, according to the report from the Office of Civil Defense (OCD-12). Jerome Barranco, OCD-12 assistant regional director, said senior citizens Nonoy Ga, 74, his wife Monita Ga, 71 and Diron Tamarang, 70, all from Tupi, South Cotabato. They were buried alive in a landslide that followed after an overnight heavy downpour. Anita Ochova, 63, of Glan, Saranggani province also died during the calamity. Region 12, also known as SOCCSKSARGEN region, is composed of the provinces of South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Saranggani and the cities of Cotabato, Kidapawan, Koronadal, Tacurong and Gen. Santos. OCD identified the wounded Jay Argal, 24 of Tulunan, North Cotabato, Jojit Mangisel of Koronadal City, Mercy Magbanua, 27 and Kathlyn Magbanua, one year old of Tupi, South Cotabato and Cristy Ochova, 31 of Glan, Sarangani province. At least 10 towns, one city and 43 villages have been submerged by floods which came left as fast as it came following heavy rain on Tuesday night. The OCD reported that at least 40 houses were totally damaged by rampaging flood waters, five flood control dikes destroyed and nine bridges totally and partially damaged. The local governments are still assessing the situation for the possibility of putting the affected areas under state of calamity.