Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo encouraged beneficiaries of the department’s family food packs who are victims of calamities to carefully examine the contents of the food packs to determine if these are complete.

“Dapat naka-tape po ang kahon pag binigay ito sa inyo. Ang laman ay  6  na kilong bigas, 4 na latang sardinas, 4 na latang carne norte o beef loaf, at 6 na sachet ng kape o cereal energy drink (The box should be taped. Its contents are 6 kilos rice, 4 cans of sardines, 4 cans of corned beef or beef loaf and 6 sachets of coffee or cereal energy drink),” Sec. Taguiwalo expounded.

“Sapat po itong pagkain para sa dalawang araw para sa isang pamilyang may limang miyembro (This is enough food for two days for a family with five members),” the Secretary added.

As of October 27, 7 am, 312,586 families or 1,394,045 persons from 3,095 barangays in Regions CAR, I, II, III, and V have been affected.

To date, some 1,122 families or 4,066 persons are still taking shelter in 21 evacuation centers in the said regions.

Relief ops in far-flung villages

Sec. Taguiwalo also reported that DSWD was able to finally reach the families affected by ‘Lawin’ in Sinundungan Valley, a far-flung and poor community in Rizal, Cagayan, through coordination with the Cagayan Valley Disaster Response Center (CVDRC).

Some 184 Family Food Packs (FFPs) were given to all families from Brgy. San Juan, while 156 FFPs were given to all families from Brgy. Bural.

DSWD staff and CVDRC volunteers were able to reach the area after a three hour grueling travel from Tuguegarao City and traversing the river boundary of the municipalities of Rizal and Lasam, Cagayan.

The provision of relief was facilitated by the barangay officials and the volunteers of CVDRC. ###