Soldiers from the Army's 6th Infantry (Kampilan) Division and Joint Task Force Central rescued stranded residents and displaced families across three provinces in central Mindanao on July 8 and 9, following heavy rains that triggered flooding in multiple municipalities, the military said.
The 6ID/JTFC said in a statement that Disaster Response Units were placed on alert and deployed across Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, and Sultan Kudarat to reinforce local disaster response efforts amid continuous rainfall brought by prevailing weather conditions.
Troops Deployed Across Nine Municipalities
According to the 6ID/JTFC, response units from the 601st Infantry Brigade, 603rd Infantry Brigade, and 1st Marine Brigade conducted humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations in nine municipalities across the three affected provinces.
In Maguindanao del Sur, operations were carried out in Ampatuan, Datu Abdullah Sangki, Talayan, and South Upi. In Maguindanao del Norte, troops were deployed to Datu Odin Sinsuat, Barira, and Parang. In Sultan Kudarat, the operations covered Palimbang and Lebak, the Command said.
Soldiers assisted stranded individuals, conducted area inspections in flood-prone zones, and monitored communities where water levels were assessed to be at risk of continuing to rise, the 6ID/JTFC added.
Multi-Agency Teams Coordinate on the Ground
The military said troops worked alongside local government units, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices, barangay officials, and Quick Response Teams throughout the operations.
Also involved in the coordinated response were the Bureau of Fire Protection, the Philippine Coast Guard, and the Philippine National Police, the 6ID/JTFC said, describing the effort as aimed at ensuring a timely and organized response to the flooding emergency.
Other Disaster Response Units under the 6ID/JTFC remained on standby alert and continued monitoring their respective areas of responsibility, according to the Command, ready to provide additional assistance when needed.
6ID/JTFC Reaffirms Readiness for Continued Operations
The 6ID/JTFC said it remains committed to supporting communities during disasters and emergencies, and that it continues to monitor the situation within its area of responsibility as of July 10.
"The Command continues to monitor the situation within its area of responsibility and remains prepared to support humanitarian assistance and disaster response efforts together with local government units and partner stakeholders," the 6ID/JTFC said in its statement issued from Camp Siongco, Maguindanao del Norte.
By the Numbers
- 3 provinces covered: Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, and Sultan Kudarat
- 9 municipalities where operations were conducted
- 3 Army brigades deployed: 601st Infantry Brigade, 603rd Infantry Brigade, and 1st Marine Brigade
- 2 days of active operations: July 8 and 9, 2026
Why This Matters
The flooding affected multiple municipalities across three provinces in central Mindanao simultaneously, requiring a coordinated military and civilian response involving at least seven distinct government agencies and units. The scale of deployment — three brigades across nine municipalities over two consecutive days — underscores the severity of the weather event and the strain placed on local disaster management offices. With remaining DRUs still on alert as of July 10, the situation in the region continues to be actively monitored.
Photo credit: Photo courtesy of 6ID/JTFC handout