An aerial view of flooding in Datu Piang, Maguindanao del Sur where the water from the river overflowed, submerging several houses. (Marhom Ibrahim/BIO)
COTABATO CITY—The Bangsamoro Government Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has officially lifted its red alert status to blue alert as of 3pm of July 19.
This decision came after the Bangsamoro Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (BDRRMC) issued a memorandum to downgrade the red alert level, which had been activated since July 14.
Several provinces in the region experienced significant damages and casualties due to massive flooding caused by the Southwest Monsoon, Low Pressure Area (LPA), and Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).
According to Department of Science and Technology- Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (DOST-PAGASA), the ITCZ that primarily caused casualties and damages in BARMM on the night of July 9 was terminated on July 10. Furthermore, DOST-PAGASA said the LPA and Southwest Monsson will affect Western Visayas, Negros Islands Region, Northern Palawan, and Occidental Mindoro.
The BDRRMC has also deactivated on July 19 three response clusters namely Search, Rescue, and Retrieval (SSR), Debris Clearing, and Emergency Telecommunications (ETC).
Despite downgrading the alert status, the BDRRMC said all other active response clusters shall continue their respective interventions and are still required to continue monitoring and sending updates to the council.
For further updates, the BDRRMC releases situational reports every 6o’clock in the evening at the Bangsamoro READi Facebook page. (Myrna Tepadan/BIO)
