By Jose Cielito Reganit | Philippine News Agency
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) continues to extend relief assistance to communities affected by the combined effects of the enhanced southwest monsoon and tropical cyclones Luis, Maymay, and Neneng.
Based on the 6:00 a.m. Disaster Response Operations Management, Information and Communication (DROMIC) report on Saturday, the DSWD has distributed 1.66 million family food packs (FFPs), 13,864 non-food items (NFIs), 22,993 ready-to-eat food (RTEF) items, and P2.76 million in financial aid to affected communities.
To sustain relief operations across affected regions, the DSWD maintains a strategic stockpile of 3.79 million FFPs, 275,983 NFIs, and 315,172 RTEF items prepositioned in warehouses nationwide.
“Patuloy ang DSWD sa pakikipag-ugnayan sa mga lokal na pamahalaan para matukoy ang mga kinakailangang tulong at agad na maipadala ang mga karagdagang relief supplies,” Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the DSWD’s Disaster Response Management Group said in a news release.
In line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to ensure uninterrupted humanitarian aid during disasters through the Buong Bansa Handa (BBH) program, the DSWD remains on high alert to support displaced populations.
The total number of affected families stands at 2,128,890, as validated by local government units.
About 11,630 families, or 39,978 persons, are currently staying in 530 open evacuation centers.
Meanwhile, 19,834 displaced families, or 78,990 persons, staying outside evacuation centers continue to receive relief support from the DSWD.
Asec. Dumlao said the DSWD is committed to maintaining close monitoring and rapid resource mobilization until all affected families are fully recovered and returned to their homes.
“Sa ilalim ng ating Buong Bansa Handa initiative, kami po sa DSWD ay ready all-year-round upang agad na makapag-abot ng kinakailangang tulong at relief augmentation support sa ating mga kababayan. Patuloy din tayong nagmomonitor at naghahanda para sa bagyo na maaaring pumasok at makaapekto sa ating bansa,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said at least 29 individuals were reported killed due to landslides, rockslides, fallen trees, drowning, strong currents, and electrocution.
Of this number, 15 were recorded in Benguet, four in Rizal, four in Batangas, one each in Quezon, Puerto Galera, Cadiz in Negros Occidental, and La Union, and two in Caloocan City.
The OCD said 19 individuals were also injured either from landslides, fallen trees, strong currents, or vehicular accidents.
The tropical cyclones and southwest monsoon had incurred damage estimated at PHP4.7 billion to infrastructure and P1.7 billion to agriculture. (With a report from Joyce Ann Rocamora/PNA)
