The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has provided Php7,846,531.77 worth of humanitarian aid to families affected by Tropical Depression (TD) Wilma, underscoring the government’s continuing response to communities hit by the weather disturbance.
As of Tuesday (December 9), the DSWD’s concerned Field Offices (FOs) have distributed family food packs (FFPs), ready-to-eat food (RTEFs) boxes, non-food items (NFIs), and other emergency relief services.
Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao of the Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) said the DSWD’s FOs have been continuously coordinating with the affected local government units (LGUs) to assess the needs of the affected families and individuals.
Despite nearing the year-end, Asst. Secretary Dumlao, who is also the DSWD spokesperson, assured the affected families that the Department is ready to respond to the request of LGUs for augmentation support.
“Ang DSWD po ay handang tumugon sa mga pangangailangan ng mga naapektuhan ni Wilma at ng mga nakaraang kalamidad. May sapat po tayong supplies. May bagyo, may kalamidad o wala, patuloy po ang ating mga production hub sa pag produce ng family food packs kasi alam naman natin na ang ating bansa ay nasa Pacific ring of fire at very prone sa mga hazards kaya naman tayo ay naghahanda sa mga kalamidad,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao said on Tuesday.
The DSWD spokesperson said the proactive preparations of the Department is in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to ensure that families affected by disasters are immediately provided with food and other basic needs.
Based on the DSWD’s December 9 Disaster Response Operations Management, Information and Communication (DROMIC) report, a total of 4,157 families remain in evacuation centers due to the effects of TD Wilma.
Most of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) are in Romblon, Albay, Camarines Norte, Masbate, and several areas across Western, Central, and Eastern Visayas.
Aside from the IDPs, the Department has also extended assistance to individuals and families who were stranded in various ports due to the weather disturbance.
“’Yung mga ready-to-eat food (RTEF) food boxes po natin, nag-distribute po ‘tayo sa mga pasahero na naipit po sa mga pantalan partikular po diyan sa Nasipit Port, Agusan Del Norte, sa Matnog, Albay. Pati rin po sa iba pang pantalan like Castilla ports, sa Pilar at sa Bulan kung saan mahigit 1,900 na mga ready-to-eat food boxes yung mga naipamahagi,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao said.
The DSWD spokesperson reaffirmed the Department’s commitment to sustain relief operations and extend continuous support for the recovery of affected families, ensuring that no Filipino is left behind in times of calamity. (KB)
