With Blue Alert Status already declared by the  National Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Council (NDRRMC), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is also now on the same mode but continues to monitor the impact of ‘Habagat’  through its virtual operations center (VOC) based at the Central Office in Batasan, Quezon City.

According to reports received at the VOC, as of 4AM of August 18, there are  86,231 families or 411,005 persons  from Regions I, III, CAR and CALABARZON who have been affected by the inclement weather.

Of this number, 2,469 families or 9,752 persons are still in 102 evacuation centers in the said regions; while 63,344 families or 302,731 persons temporarily took shelter with their relatives and friends.

Meanwhile, evacuation centers in the National Capital Region are now closed and displaced families have returned home.

The total assistance given to the affected families amount to P6,932,690.05  with the DSWD providing a total of P3,698,156.65, while local government units (LGUs) provided P2,717,347.20, and non-government organizations (NGOs) gave P517,186.20 worth of assistance.

Currently, the DSWD continues its partnership with LGUs in monitoring disaster operations in the local level, including post-disaster recovery and rehabilitation for the affected families.

“DSWD-Field Offices, together with LGUs and  volunteers,  continue to ensure the safety and security of our Kababayans staying inside evacuation centers. Aside from providing their needs, we are also doing our best to monitor their situation against any form of discrimination and abuse while they are still inside the temporary shelters,” said DSWD Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo. ###