When floods hit North Cotabatoand Residents develop ‘resiliency’

KIDAPAWAN CITY – While few barangays in Pikit town in North Cotabato have been inundated after heavy rains over the weekend, a disaster risk official said residents in these villages have already become ‘resilient’.Pikit municipal disaster risk reduction and management officer Tahira Kalantongan described them as ‘resilient’ and can easily adopt to the situation. Sanay na sila sa baha.Resilientna nga e, she stressed.Of the 26 low-lying barangays in Pikit, at least three were affected by floods, including barangays in Inug-og, Takepan, and Dalingaoen – all areas adjacent to the Rio Grande de Mindanao and Liguasan marsh.This, however, doesn’t prevent Kalantongan’s office to prepare for ‘worst case scenario’. In fact, we make it sure relief packs and food items are available at the office and ready for distribution, she said.Kalantongan, however, is yet to conduct monitoring of the flooded barangays and the extent of the damage to properties and crops.Heavy rains continued until Monday.Pikit’s adjacent municipalities – Aleosan in North Cotabato and Pagagawan and Datu Montawal towns, both in Maguindanao, were also flooded when heavy rains hit the province this Sunday.Some of the roads leading to these areas suffered cracks, but are still passable, reports said.