Overflowing Rio Grande river floods Cotabato City

COTABATO CITY, Philippines - At least 75 percent of Cotabato City is now underwater due to the overflowing of the Rio Grande de Mindanao river. As of press time, the City Social Welfare and Development Office revealed that at about 25 barangays have been directly affected and that at least 14,000 displaced families are now temporarily sheltered at the different evacuation centers. The floods also prompted most of the public and private schools in the city to announce the suspension of classes especially those who are in the affected areas. According to National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), the floods were caused by water lilies in the river and the sudden surge of water. Earlier, the city government of Cotabato expressed concern on how to pull out the three-meter thick growth of water lilies which now covers over 7 hectares of the Rio Grande river. The NDDC also that the presence of water lilies diverted the water from the Rio Grande river into the low-lying areas of Cotabato City. Ofelia Ibrahim, CSWD Officer, said that most of the evacuees preferred to stay in safe banks just near their homes to secure their belongings. Barangay Rosary Heights 8, one of the affected barangays, had over 70 displaced families temporarily staying at the Notre Dame Village Elementary School. Barangay Chairman John Ervin Mangulamas said that today, they are set to deliver relief goods into the evacuees. The city government of Cotabato is now appealing for the assistance of the national leadership and the different concerned line agencies. - By Gilmhar A. Lao, GMANews.TV