61 dead in Maguindanao due to Paeng, says governor

There have been 61 deaths recorded so far in Maguindanao with 17 still missing following the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Paeng, Governor Bai Mariam Sangki-Mangudadatu reported Tuesday.

In a briefing with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., Mangudadatu said the local government is still conducting operations to search for the missing individuals following the landslides in the area.

Among the areas affected by landslides are Barangay Kusiong in Datu Odin Sinsuat; Barangays Romonggaob and Looy in South Upi; and Barangays Maagabo Bayanga Sur Norte and Kabugaw Sapad in Matanog.

Mangudadatu said 30 out of the 36 municipalities and 370 out of the 508 barangays in the province were affected by Paeng, displacing 124,501 families or 622,605 individuals.

There have also been 10 bridges damaged in the area — Ledepan Bridge, Kurintem Bridge, DBS Bridge, Sarakan Street, Matengan Steel Bridge, Darapan Steel Bridge, Lower Magulat Kiga, Upper Magutay Rempes, Labu-Labu Bridge, and Nituan Bridge.

Due to the damage of the Labu-Labu Bridge, the governor said relief efforts to Cotabato have been facing difficulties as medium to heavy vehicles cannot pass through.

The travel time to Cotabato has since been extended to six hours from the normal 1.5 hours.

Paeng officially exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Monday afternoon, while Tropical Storm Queenie entered.

Latest data available from the Department of Agriculture (DA) estimates that partial damage and losses to the sector caused by Paeng have reached P1.22 billion as of 3 p.m. on Monday, October 31. —KBK, GMA News