MANILA, Philippines—Eleven municipalities in Maguindanao del Sur have received P55 million in emergency financial assistance to speed up recovery efforts following severe flooding in the region, the Office of the Special Assistant to the President (OSAP) said Wednesday. The OSAP led the distribution of P5 million to each municipality under the ‘Tugon ng Pangulo’ program of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Persistent heavy rainfall from the Intertropical Convergence Zone caused rivers to overflow in late October 2025, displacing thousands of residents and damaging homes, infrastructure, and farmland across the province. Special Assistant to the President Anton Lagdameo said the program was designed to provide local government units (LGUs) with the liquidity needed to respond to disasters without delay. He said that the funds aimed to provide immediate support to those impacted by calamities, enabling local leaders to respond swiftly and effectively on the ground. Officials said the funds may be utilized at the discretion of each LGU to assist flood victims, restore essential services, and rehabilitate damaged infrastructure in their respective areas. The release of assistance followed a request from Maguindanao del Sur Rep. Esmael ‘Toto’ Mangudadatu for immediate aid to the affected municipalities in his district after the flooding disrupted communities and livelihoods. Mangudadatu expressed gratitude to the President and Lagdameo, saying that it was vital for the request to be acted upon quickly to help the affected communities. During a turnover ceremony in Davao City, the mayors personally received the checks for their respective municipalities. The recipients included Mayor Datu Ibrahim Mangudadatu of Buluan, Mayor Vicman Montawal of Datu Montawal, Mayor Omar Ali of Datu Salibo, Mayor Bassir Uto of Datu Saudi Ampatuan, and Mayor Fiedder Owen Mangudadatu of Mangudadatu. Other local leaders who received aid were Mayor Abdilah Mamasabulod of Pagalungan, Mayor Raisa Langkuno of Paglat, Mayor Bai Maruja Ampatuan Mastura of Rajah Buayan, Mayor Mielyn Dimalna Ali of Gen. S.K. Pendatun, Mayor Allandatu Angas Sr. of Sultan sa Barongis, and Mayor Datu Sajid Andre Ampatuan of Shariff Saydona Mustapha. Officials said the funds may be utilized at the discretion of each local government unit to assist flood victims, restore essential services, and rehabilitate damaged infrastructure. The Tugon ng Pangulo Program forms part of the administration’s “Bagong Pilipinas” agenda, which seeks to ensure timely and responsive government action for local governments struck by natural disasters and other emergencies.