Under the directions of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo, DSWD disaster teams together with local government units (LGUs) have intensified their relief operations in areas battered by the Southwest Monsoon rains and floods.

Sec. Taguiwalo also assured that the Department has enough stockpile of family food packs and standby funds to augment the resources of LGUs for families affected by ‘Habagat.’

As of 16 August, the Department has P725 million worth of relief resources in the regions that are currently affected by the Southwest Monsoon consisting of P285,443,917.79 standby funds, 289,192 family food packs worth P104,056,354.96,  other food items amounting to P117,334,221.21, and non-food items worth P218,641,411.17.  The amount also includes the Quick Response Fund (QRF) at the Central Office readily available for release to the DSWD-Field Offices for augmentation.

Based on the Department’s latest bulletin, as of 12NN today, 32,219 families or 154,984 persons coming from 204 barangays in the National Capital Region (NCR), Regions I, III, IV-A, VI and Negros Island Region (NIR) are still affected by the intermittent rains.

A total of 5,037 families or 24,024 persons are still in 63 evacuation centers in NCR, Regions I, III, and IV-A while 9,969 families or 45,805 persons stay with their relatives’ and friends’ houses but are nonetheless being provided with relief assistance.

Region IV-A has the most number of existing evacuation centers at 29 with 3,308 families or 16,485 persons.

A total of P2,403,730.45 has been provided to the affected families in NCR and Region IV-A coming from the combined resources of the DSWD and LGUs. All other DSWD-Field Offices are ready to provide augmentation to affected LGUs, when necessary.

“Patuloy pa rin ang pakikipag-ugnayan ng ating ahensya sa lokal na pamahalaan na apektado ng matinding pagbaha at ulan. Muli po ay hinihimok namin ang lahat na patuloy na makipagtulungan sa mga volunteers, social workers at mga miyembro ng LGUs sa kanilang lugar upang matugunan ang kanilang mga kailangan. Ang DSWD ay may sapat na relief supplies para sa lahat ng apektadong pamilya (The Department continues its coordination with LGUs affected by the floods and heavy rain. Again, we are urging everyone to cooperate with volunteers, social workers and members of LGUs so we can immediately address your needs. We assure you that we have enough relief supplies to meet your needs),” Sec. Taguiwalo said. ###