The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has provided more than PHP1.36 billion in humanitarian assistance to families affected by the combined effects of tropical cyclones Luis, Maymay, and Neneng, as well as the southwest monsoon or “habagat.”
As of 6 a.m. on Wednesday, the Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Communication (DROMIC) reported that the DSWD has provided a total of PHP1.36 billion worth of family food packs (FFPs), ready-to-eat food (RTEF) boxes, financial assistance, and other food and non-food items (FNFIs).
In a news release, Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the DSWD’s Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) said the Department has also provided critical social protection services to affected individuals, including 739 children served through child-friendly spaces, 31 persons through women-friendly spaces, and 210 through psychological first aid.
Three mobile kitchens deployed by the DSWD Field Offices (FOs) have also served a total of 1,629 individuals.
Dumlao said the DSWD FOs in all affected regions also continue to distribute relief assistance to families affected by the recent weather disturbances.
On Tuesday, FO 1 (Ilocos Region) facilitated the distribution of FFPs in Dagupan City, Alaminos City, San Carlos City, Binmaley, Bolinao, Labrador, Aguilar, Santa Barbara, and Mangatarem in Pangasinan, as well as through the Provincial Government of La Union.
The DSWD FO 2 (Cagayan Valley) likewise continued to provide FNFIs to all affected families.
In Central Luzon, the DSWD FO 3 also distributed FFPs in Dinalupihan, Bataan, while FO Mimaropa also delivered food packs to residents of Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro.
In Visayas, FO 6 (Western Visayas) distributed RTEF boxes in Pototan, Iloilo, as well as FFPs in Mina, Zarraga, and Leon, Iloilo.
“Patuloy po ang ating pamamahagi ng family food packs at iba pang kinakailangang relief assistance sa ating mga kababayan na patuloy na naapektuhan ng mga pag-ulan at pagbaha. Hindi po natatapos ang ating response dahil lamang sa nakaalis na sa ating bansa ang mga bagyo. Patuloy po nating mino-monitor ang sitwasyon at nakikipag-ugnayan sa ating mga partner LGUs (The distribution of family food packs and other needed relief assistance to our countrymen affected by rains and floods is continuous. Our response does not stop just because the typhoons have left the country. We continue to monitor the situation and coordinate with our partner LGUs),” Dumlao said.
The latest DROMIC report showed that the DSWD has 3.635 million FFPs prepositioned nationwide, while more than PHP610 million in standby funds remains available.
Latest data showed 21,852 families or 81,307 individuals remain displaced due to the combined effects of weather disturbances in the past weeks. (PNA)