More than Php 37 million in relief aid from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has been provided to families across the country who are still reeling from the combined effects of Tropical Storm Crising and the habagat, an agency official reported on Sunday (July 20).
Asst.Secretary Irene Dumlao of the DSWD’s Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) said the aid comprised 53,383 family food packs (FFPs), ready-to-eat food (RTEF), and non-food items (NFIs) that were swiftly delivered to disaster-stricken communities.
“We were able to distribute these assistance as fast as we could because of the round-the-clock response efforts of our Quick Response Teams (QRTs) from our Field Offices. Kung matatandaan natin, kahapon nasa Php4 million ang halaga ng assistance na napamigay natin. Ngayong umaga, nasa Php 37 million na dahil patuloy na nagtutulungan ‘yung mga disaster response personnel natin from places to places para makapagbigay ng agarang tulong sa mga apektado nating kababayan,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao, who is also the DSWD spokesperson, said.
Based on the 6 a.m report of the DSWD- Disaster Response Operations Management, Information and Communication (DROMIC), a total of 151,012 families or 523,686 individuals from 1,134 barangays across National Capital Region (NCR), Regions 1 (Ilocos Region), 2 (Cagayan Valley), 3 (Central Luzon), CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, 5 (Bicol Region), 6 (Western Visayas), 7 (Central Visayas), 8 (Eastern Visayas), 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula), 10 (Northern Mindanao), 11 (Davao Region), 12 (SOCCSKSARGEN), Caraga, and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) have been affected by the twin weather systems.
Of the total affected families, 9,621 families or 33,608 individuals are taking refuge in 407 evacuation centers, while 22,511 families or 99,834 individuals are temporarily staying with their relatives or friends.
Asst. Secretary Dumlao said the DSWD will continue coordinating with local government units (LGUs) to bring immediate aid and sense of relief to disaster-hit families, in line with the marching order of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and directive of Secretary Rex Gatchalian.
“We are fully-committed to reaching every affected community swiftly and efficiently amid the ongoing challenges posed by the aftermath of Crising and torrential rains still affecting the country,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao said.
In Antique province, the DSWD-FO 6 (Western Visayas) QRT braved the strong currents of the Burwangan River to deliver, by foot, 200 boxes of family food packs to the residents of Barangay Alegre in the municipality of Sebaste, after a bridge in the stretch of the river became impassable.
The operation, conducted in coordination with the LGU of Sebaste, demonstrated the dedication of DSWD personnel to reach even the most isolated areas, according to the DSWD spokesperson.
“Simultaneously, DSWD workers are addressing the welfare of evacuees. In Hinigaran and Binalbagan towns in Negros Occidental, the agency’s disaster response teams conducted storytelling and recreational play sessions in child-friendly spaces (CFS) inside evacuation centers, providing psychosocial support and easing the emotional toil of children affected by the cyclone,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao said.
The DSWD spokesperson said complementing the simultaneous release of relief supplies is the continuous production of food packs at the DSWD’s National Resource Operation Center (NROC) in Pasay City and at the Visayas Disaster Response Center (VDRC) in Mandaue City, Cebu.
The DSWD maintains close to Php3 billion-worth of stockpiles of relief supplies and stand-by funds, ready to be tapped for the ongoing disaster response operations. (LSJ)
