The Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) total amount of assistance extended to families and individuals hit by the successive weather systems in the country has reached Php293M, an agency official reported on Friday (July 25).
Tropical Cyclones Crising, Dante, and the continuing downpour from Typhoon Emong and the southwest monsoon or habagat have left 1,380,087 families or 4,934,207 individuals reeling from the impact of these weather disturbances that affected 5,501 barangays across the country
Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao of the DSWD’s Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) said the prompt provision of family food packs (FFPs) and non-food items (NFIs) to communities hit by heavy rainfall and flood will continue in the next few days and weeks, in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. that no one should be left behind during times of disaster.
“Tuluy-tuloy po ang relief operations natin sa iba’t-ibang lugar katuwang ang mga local government units (LGUs) natin. Nangunguna sa mga naipadala na nating tulong ay ‘yung 431,722 bilang ng mga family food packs (FFPs) at 3,903 ready-to-eat food (RTEF) boxes ng DSWD. Kasama rin dito yung mga non-food items para sa evacuees natin tulad ng kumot, hygiene, family, kitchen kits, at water filtration units,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao, who is also the DSWD spokesperson, said.
A total of 53,132 families or 189,346 individuals are currently taking temporary shelter in 1,609 evacuation centers in the National Capital Region (NCR), Region 1 (Ilocos Region), 2 (Cagayan Valley), 3 (Central Luzon), CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, 5 (Bicol Region), 6 (Western Visayas), Negros Island Region (NIR), 7 (Central Visayas), Caraga, and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
“Pabugso-bugso man yung pag-ulan dahil sa mga successive weather disturbances, araw-araw pong sumusuong yung mga disaster frontliners o Angels in Red Vests natin para makapaghatid ng tulong. Katuwang din po natin si Secretary Rex Gatchalian na since Monday ay personal na kinakamusta ang kalagayan ng mga disaster-affected families at sinisigurado na nabibigyang pansin at tamang suporta ang mga pangangailangan nila,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao said.
In the Ilocos Region, which is currently being battered by Typhoon Emong, disaster-hit families are thankful to the DSWD’s Field Office 1 – Ilocos Region personnel for leading the swift distribution of aid in all the affected areas.
Reynaldo Tabag from Dumalneg, Ilocos Norte, who received his share of FFPs, lauded the DSWD for giving attention to their needs as the extreme weather conditions disrupted their source of income.
“Malaking tulong ito sa amin na hindi nakapag trabaho ngayong bagyo kasi walang ibang pagkakakitaan sa ganitong panahon, kaya maraming salamat sa mga food packs na binigay niyo,” Reynaldo said.
Asst. Secretary Dumlao said the DSWD is maximizing all disaster response resources to provide not just immediate, but adequate and comprehensive relief to uplift the spirits of disaster-hit Filipinos.
“Sa iba’t-ibang panig ng bansa, lalo na yung pinaka-apektado ng pagbaha at malakas na ulan, dine-deploy ‘yung Mobile Kitchens ng mga Field Offices (FOs) natin para makapagbigay ng mainit na pagkain. Multipurpose din ang mga Mobile Command Center (MCC) units natin. Hindi lang para mapabilis ang koordinasyon natin for disaster response, kundi para mabigyan ng libreng WiFi at electricity source ‘yung mga pinaka-nangangailangan,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao pointed out. (LSJ)