Families and individuals in Northern and Central Luzon drenched by the effects of Typhoon “Bising” and the habagat have so far received Php719,187-worth of relief assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), an agency official reported on Tuesday (July 8).
Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao of the DSWD’s Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) said the amount covers the 1,068 family food packs (FFPs) and emergency kits that were swiftly delivered to Bising-hit local government units (LGUs) since last week, particularly in areas hit by intense rains, flooding, and landslide incidents.
“Even when Bising was still a low-pressure area, we assured our LGUs that we will support their relief efforts, especially in areas forecast to bear the brunt of the weather disturbance. ‘Yan at yan rin po ang ginawa ng disaster response teams natin, sinisigurado natin na mabibigyan ng agarang tulong at kapanatagan ang mga kababayan natin, alinsunod na rin sa utos ng ating Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao, who is also the DSWD’s spokesperson, said.
Based on the July 8, 6:00 a.m. report of the Disaster Response Operations Management, Information, and Communication (DROMIC), a total of 30,683 families or 95,910 persons in 61 barangays in Regions 1 (Ilocos Region), 3 (Central Luzon), and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) have been affected.
“In Region 3, where various areas were submerged with flood waters, the DSWD-Central Luzon facilitated the distribution of 225 FFPs to Bising-hit families in the city of Sta. Rosa, Nueva Ecija,” the DSWD spokesperson said.
Asst. Secretary Dumlao said the DSWD has already started relief distribution in Ilocos Region since July 5, reaching disaster-hit families in the towns of Narvacan, Sta. Maria, and the city of Vigan in Ilocos Sur.
“Rest assured na tuluy-tuloy ‘yung monitoring natin sa mga affected communities with the help of concerned LGUs. Sufficient rin ang mga supplies natin across the affected regions,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao said.
The DSWD-CAR also led a site assessment to landslide-affected areas in Itogon, Benguet.
DSWD-CAR Regional Director (RD) Maria Catbagan-Aplaten personally visited the area and assured the affected communities and concerned LGUs that her regional personnel are monitoring the situation and providing the necessary assistance to the displaced families.
The agency’s Field Offices in Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, and CAR maintain 493,457 FFPs and Php9M in stand-by funds. (LSJ)