Despite the holidays, disaster teams of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Offices in Regions VIII, X, and Caraga continue to assist local government units (LGUs) affected by the heavy rains and flooding in their disaster relief operations for their constituents.

Based on the December 25 report of the DSWD Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center (DROMIC), some 15,487 families or 69,323 persons have been affected by the weather disturbance. Of this number, 9,409 families or 45,813 families fled their homes and are now currently staying in 34 evacuation centers set up by LGUs in Regions X and Caraga.

The DSWD expressed readiness to augment the resources of the LGUs to meet the needs of their affected constituents. At present, some 60,905 family food packs (FFPs) are available in the Disaster Response Centers of the Department with 39,399 FFPs prepositioned at the National Resource Operations Center in Pasay City, Metro Manila and 21, 506 FFPs available at the Visayas Disaster Resource Center in Mandaue City, Cebu.

The Department also has ₱56.50 million Quick Response Fund that can be used for emergency relief supplies and ₱75.56 million available in DSWD Field Offices which may support the relief needs of the displaced families.

Upon the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr, the Department in coordination with concerned LGUs, will continue to ensure that the needs of the affected families are provided for especially during the holidays. ###