TRUCKS laden with food and portable water purifiers left here today via the 82-kilometer Talakag-Wao-Libungan road to reach the flood-stricken Maguindanao province.
Charlito Manlupig, president of Balay Mindanaw Foundation Inc., said most of the relief convoys have to use the road after the Nituan Bridge in Parang, Maguindanao collapsed at the height of tropical storm Paeng on October 28.
Nituan Bridge is a vital link to the Ramos Highway that connects Cotabato City to Marawi and Iligan cities in Northern Mindanao.
The Talakag, Bukidnon; Wao, Lanao del Sur, and Libungan, North Cotabato is now the shortest road system from Northern Mindanao to Cotabato City and Maguindanao.
Manlupig said their group sent portable water purifiers to Maguindanao so residents can have safe water to drink.
He said they have entrusted the purifiers to Minister Raisa Jajurie, chair of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in the Muslim Mindanao Social Services Department.
“There is a positive response from other groups willing to help Maguindanao,” Manlupig said.
Lanao del Sur provincial information officer Jennie Tamano said a convoy of eight dump trucks loaded with rice, sardines, noodles, coffee, and sardines left for Maguindanao this morning.
Tamano said the convoy left via Maguing town to Wao road to avoid getting stuck at the Nituan Bridge.
She said two additional trucks also left Monday morning for the town of Balabagan in Lanao del Sur where 300 families were forced to evacuate.