The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) continues its resource augmentation to assist local government units (LGUs) in their relief operations to families affected by the Trough of a Low-Pressure Area (LPA) that brought heavy rains in the Visayas and Mindanao Regions.

Currently, the DSWD has already provided more than ₱1.8 million worth of humanitarian aid to the affected localities in Regions VI, IX, and XI. Likewise, the Department, through its Field Offices, facilitated the distribution of family food packs, and other non-food items such as hygiene, sleeping, and family  kits to the affected population.

Based on the February 16, 6 PM Report of the Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center (DROMIC), there are a total of 11,944 families or 39,830 individuals affected by the Trough of LPA in Regions VI, VII, IX, X, XI, and XII. Of these, 306 families or 1,263 persons are currently taking temporary shelter in 10 evacuation centers set up by the LGUs in Regions VI, VII, X, and XII.

Meanwhile, the Department also assured that it has enough funds and resources to assist the LGUs as they continue relief operations.  The DSWD said that it maintains ₱748.73 million Quick Response Fund (QRF) at the Central Office and ₱76.44 million standby funds available in its Field Offices which may support the relief needs of the displaced families and individuals in the affected localities.

Moreover, the Department has more than 636,900 family food packs available for augmentation to LGUs.

The Department likewise said that all its Field Offices in the affected areas are on standby and are closely coordinating with the LGUs to monitor the situation, as well as provide the needed interventions. ###