By Brian Jules Campued
Around P1.2 million in humanitarian aid has been extended to families affected by Typhoon Aghon, while over P3 billion worth of assistance is already on standby, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said Monday.
“Nagbahagi tayo ng mahigit P1.2 milyong humanitarian assistance, at inihanda natin ang mahigit P3 bilyong halaga ng standby funds at pre-positioned goods at stockpiles, upang masiguro ang mas malawak at mabilis na tulong para sa ating mga kababayang apektado ng bagyong #AghonPH,” President Marcos said in a statement posted on social media.
“Asahan nating patuloy ang ating mga ahensiya sa pagsuporta sa bawat komunidad at pagtiyak sa maayos na kalagayan ng ating mga mamamayan,” he added.
In a news release, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said that humanitarian aid was given to families affected by Aghon in the Mimaropa and Bicol regions.
According to DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao, local government units in Albay, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, and Sorsogon have also extended P479,000 worth of assistance to their affected constituents.
Meanwhile, Dumlao added that the agency’s standby funds and family food packs are also “readily available and can be distributed immediately” as the need arises.
“The DSWD continues to provide resource augmentation to assist the affected localities,” the DSWD spokesperson said Sunday.
“Our Field Offices in the affected regions remain on high alert status and continue to coordinate with the LGUs to determine other interventions for the affected families,” she added.
Based on the latest situational report by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), a total of 8,465 families or about 19,373 individuals were affected by Aghon in Regions IV-A, IV-B, V, and VIII.
Of this number, 657 families or 2,162 individuals are being served in 81 evacuation centers.
However, more than 3,000 individuals are still outside evacuation centers. – iro
