The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has started sending family food packs (FFPs) and other forms of relief assistance to families affected by flash floods in several barangays in Glan, Sarangani due to heavy rainfall brought by the easterlies.

“Secretary Rex Gatchalian has instructed Regional Director Loreto Cabaya Jr. of our Field Office 12 – SOCCSKSARGEN to closely coordinate with the affected local government units (LGUs) for possible requests for relief augmentation. Our FO has started sending FFPs to the municipality of Glan,” Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the DSWD’s Disaster Response Management
Group (DRMG) said on Wednesday (April 2).

As of April 1, at least 2,792 families or 13,960 individuals from eight barangays in Glan, Sarangani have been affected by the weather system.

Asst. Secretary Dumlao, who is also the DSWD spokesperson said a total of 404 families or 2,020 individuals are currently taking temporary shelter at the Municipal Gymnasium in the affected municipality.

“We assure the LGUs that the DSWD is ready to send augmentation support. As of this moment, the agency has Php691 million worth of standby funds and prepositioned relief stockpile,” the DSWD spokesperson said.

The DSWD FO-SOCCSKSARGEN, which covers the provinces of South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos, maintains Php3 million in standby funds and 75,930 boxes of FFPs ready for distribution. (YADP)