As Typhoon ‘Marce’ intensifies, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in close coordination with local government units (LGUs), continues to monitor the condition of evacuees affected by the tropical cyclone and has started providing relief assistance to the affected families.

DSWD Secretary Judy Taguiwalo assured prompt delivery of relief assistance to affected families. 

She once again reiterated her call during previous emergencies that affected families should go to their local officials for any assistance that they need.

“We have prepositioned goods with the LGUs. Families do not need to wait for the distribution. If they need the goods, they can approach their local authorities,” Sec. Taguiwalo emphasized.

The DSWD Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center (DROMIC) reported that as of 9AM today, ‘Marce’ has affected 1,993 families or 10,045 individuals in 100 barangays in Regions VI and CARAGA.

A total of 1,306 families or 5,790 persons have been displaced. Among these, 567 families or 2,612 individuals are sheltered in 39 evacuation centers set up by LGUs, while 70 families or 342 persons are staying with their relatives and friends.

An initial assistance of P32,977.23 has already been provided to the affected families in CARAGA. Of this, P22,537.23 came from the Department, while the remaining P10,440.00 came from the LGUs.

In Region VII and MIMAROPA, some 717 families or 3,481 individuals were taken into pre-emptive evacuation and are now staying in six evacuation centers in the regions.

Meanwhile, nine houses in Janiuay, Iloilo were reported to be partially damaged.

Situational reports from affected regions

The DSWD Field Office (FO) MIMAROPA is keeping a close watch over the situation in the region and is coordinating with the Regional Quick Response Teams (QRTs), Social Welfare Desks (SWAD) Provincial QRTs, and Municipal QRTs for any update. The FO has available standby vehicles and communication lines for disaster response operations.

Staff and City/Municipal Action Teams (C/MAT) in FO Negros Island Region (NIR) has transported a total of 3,100 family food packs yesterday to affected families staying in evacuation centers. There are no reported casualties in the region.

In FO VI, 409 passengers got stranded yesterday as authorities cancelled motorbanca trips due to the inclement weather condition. Some 424 families or 2,938 persons in 13 barangays in the City of Passi, Iloilo are affected by the typhoon and are now staying in evacuation centers.

DSWD FO VI  provided 75 family food packs, 75 mosquito nets, and 17 blankets to the evacuees, while the LGU of Iloilo City provided food assistance in the form of rice, beef loaf, pork and beans, blankets and mosquito nets. The FO has a standby army truck for the delivery of food packs, with 52 volunteers ready for deployment.

Meanwhile, in FO VII, 592 families or 2,905 individuals from the city and municipalities of Toledo, Minglanilla, Tubicon, and Ubay who earlier engaged in pre-emptive evacuation have returned to their respective houses as PAGASA lifted yesterday the tropical cyclone system signal from the three provinces in Central Visayas, which include Bohol, Cebu and Siquijor.

On the other hand, DSWD FO VIII QRT members and SWAD Teams in Southern Leyte and Leyte provinces continue to monitor the condition in the area and have prepositioned food and non-food items in 92 municipalities in the region. The FO has one winged van and two Botswana trucks that could be dispatched anytime to transport family food acks. Packing of food items is ongoing.

Stockpile and standby funds

The DSWD has a total of P941,015,449.63 stockpile and standby funds available at the Central Office (CO), concerned FOs, and National Resource Operations Center (NROC).

The number consists of P420,484,741.83 available standby funds at the CO and FOs, 321,120 family food packs amounting to P115,510,552.69 ready to be distributed to the affected families as needed, and P405,020,155.11 worth of Food and Non-Food Items (FNFIs), such as mats, blankets, and hygiene kits.

Before typhoon ‘Marce’ made landfall, the DSWD through its Field Offices, has earlier prepositioned family food packs in all identified regions within the path of ‘Marce’ to ensure enough supply of food for evacuees.

DSWD DROMIC is on 24/7 alert status and is continuously monitoring weather updates. It is closely coordinating with the Department’s field offices in Region VI, VII, NIR, VIII, X, and CARAGA for the latest situation, status of stockpile and standby funds, and the emergency response measures undertaken with regard to ‘Marce’. #