MOTC Leads Relief Efforts Amid BARMM Flood Crisis

Jul 17, 2024

In the wake of relentless rainfall unleashed by the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) on July 9, 2024, brought catastrophic flooding to Maguindanao Del Norte and Lanao Del Sur. The subsequent deluge on July 11 exacerbated the crisis across low-lying areas in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), plunging communities deeper into distress. Despite the challenges posed by landslides and infrastructure damage due to multiple successive weather systems, joint response efforts mobilized swiftly to aid affected populations.

Amidst escalating crises, the Bangsamoro Disaster Risk Reduction Management Center (BDRRMC) coordinated a comprehensive situational report to consolidate data on flash floods and their impacts. This initiative aimed to streamline regional responses and optimize relief operations, underscoring Chief Minister Ahod B. Ebrahim’s commitment to effective governance and community welfare.

Concurrently, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC), under Minister Paisalin P. Tago’s stewardship, along with its 7 attached agencies namely the Bangsamoro Airport Authority (BAA), Civil Aeronautics Board of the Bangsamoro (CABB), Bangsamoro Land Transportation Office(BLTO), Bangsamoro Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (BLTFRB), Bangsamoro Ports Management Authority(BPMA) Bangsamoro Maritime Industry Authority (BMARINA), Bangsamoro Telecommunications Commission (BTC), played a pivotal role by marshaling resources. Their contribution ranged from essential supplies like foodstuffs, personal hygiene kits, and water in containers to financial donations, providing crucial support to the victims in Special Geographic Areas (SGA).

Through unified efforts and resolute action, the region confronted nature’s onslaught with determination, weaving resilience amid adversity. As communities united in solidarity, a light of hope emerged amidst the chaos, promising the gradual restoration of lives and landscapes ravaged by the floods.