COTABATO CITY (PIA) -- President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. is set to visit the Bangsamoro region today to check on the updates on the effects of #PaengPH in the region, particularly in Maguindanao Province where casualties are recorded.
Aside from his attendance to a briefing, Marcos is expected to visit some affected areas in Maguindanao and attend a ceremonial distribution of relief goods.
As of 1:40 a.m. Tuesday, (November 1), the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) in Maguindanao has recorded a total of 61 casualties in five municipalities of the province.
Of the said number, 42 are recorded in Datu Odin Sinsuat, eight in Upi, seven in Datu Blah Sinsuat, three in Barira, and one in South Upi.
Meanwhile, based on the October 31, 6:00 p.m. situational report of the Office of Civil Defense-BARMM, a total of 440 barangays with 211,656 households are affected. Of this total number, 360 barangays, with 142,800 households, are in Maguindanao.
#PaengPH also affected major thoroughfares in Maguindanao. Since October 28, Friday, the national highway at Sitio lower Kulate, Romonggaob, South Upi is still impassable. Several bridges in the province were also damaged making the infrastructure impassable. These include Darapanan Bridge in Sultan, Kudarat, Tapian Bridge in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Labo Bridge in Datu Hoffer, Tapayan Bridge in Sultan Mastura, Sarakan in Matanog, and Ledepan Bridge in Barangay Badak, DOS.
Meanwhile, Nituan Bridge in Parang is now passable but only for light vehicles.
Various agencies of the BARMM government already started relief distribution in affected areas and search and rescue operations are ongoing as there are still 17 persons missing.
BARMM chief minister Ahod Ebrahim said that the BARMM government is doing its best to address the effects of Paeng. He also urged the residents, particularly those in low-lying areas, to be alert at all times.
“Pinapahalagahan ng Bangsamoro Government ang buhay ng bawat mamamayan nito kaya’t patuloy po ang ating panawagan sa mga komunidad na malapit sa mga ilog at dagat na lumikas nang mas maaga sa tulong ng ating mga rescuers patungo sa mga evacuation centers,” Ebrahim, once again, urged his constituents.
The BARMM government declared the region under the state of calamity on October 29. (PIA XII)
