The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through its Rapid Emergency Telecommunications Team (RETT) has established an internet connection at the National Emergency Center in Clark, Pampanga to support the disaster response operations in Central and Northern Luzon.

“It was necessary to provide uninterrupted and reliable communication support for Central and Northern Luzon since the power in some areas was cut off due to floods and heavy rains.  We need to have access to timely and accurate information on the grounds in those areas,” explained DSWD Secretary Virginia “Gee” N. Orogo.

As of today’s 2PM report of the DSWD-Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center (DROMIC), 297 evacuation centers in Regions I, III, VI, CAR, NCR, CALABARZON, and MIMAROPA are still open providing temporary shelter to 12,388  families or 50,852  persons while 106,865 families.

The DSWD has provided P14,270,133.98 worth of food and non-food assistance  to affected LGUs for distribution to affected families.

Meanwhile, the DSWD Field Office (FO) MIMAROPA has deployed staff in Oriental Mindoro to assist in the camp management and relief operations in the province. Staff members are also on duty for the distribution of relief goods of requesting LGUs.

 In the Southern Tagalog Region, the DSWD FO-CALABARZON, in coordination with the Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) office of Cavite, has already conducted Rapid Damage Assessment in Imus City and Bacoor City to determine appropriate interventions and other needed support.

Additional family food packs (FFPs) are also set to be delivered by  DSWD FO-III in the following areas: 300 family food packs  (FFP) in Bagac, Bataan; 1,000 FFPs in Samal, Bataan; 2,000 FFPs for the first district of Bataan; and, 900 FFPs in La Paz, Tarlac.

“We thank LGUs for their continuing coordination with us to deliver the basic services needed by our affected kababayans. Rest assured that our field offices in the affected regions are fast-tracking their validation and assessment for the needed augmentation of food and non-food items,” said Sec. Orogo. ###