ARMM clears waterways of water lilies

COTABATO
CITY – The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) started clearing
portions of the Rio Grande de Mindanao where water hyacinth had started to
build up since yesterday.

Lawyer
Laisa Alamia, ARMM executive secretary, said personnel from the region’s department
of public works, ARMM Humanitarian Emergency Action Response Team and
volunteers, have started clearing the Tamontaka River and Rio Grande de
Mindanao with water lilies that pose dangers to bridges and trigger floods to
low lying communities.

Many
residents in communities near the two big rivers have complained of stagnant
flood water when the waterways overflowed because the water flow was obstructed
by huge chunks of water hyacinth.

The Cotabato City government through its amphibious backhoe
equipment is also conducting clearing operations.