Tropical Cyclone Crising has left the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) but the southwest monsoon or habagat continues to bring heavy downpour in several regions across the country prompting the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to stay on red alert to monitor the ground situation of affected areas.
“Bagamat lumabas na ang Bagyong Crising, patuloy pa rin na nakaantabay 24/7 ang DSWD at mga Field Offices (FOs) natin para mag-monitor sa sitwasyon ng mga kababayan nating patuloy na naaapektuhan ng masamang panahon na dulot ng habagat. Ito ay alinsunod sa direktiba ng ating Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr na patuloy na siguraduhin ang kapanatagan ng mga pamilya hanggat nandiyan pa rin ang banta ng pag-ulan at pag-baha,” Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao of the DSWD’s Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) said on Monday (July 21).
According to Asst. Secretary Dumlao, who is also DSWD spokesperson, the agency was able to provide more than Php45 million worth of food and non-food items to municipalities affected by Severe Tropical Storm Crising and the habagat.
As of the 6 a.m report of the Disaster Response Operations Management, Information and Communication (DROMIC), 346 evacuation centers set up by the local government units (LGUs) remain open in the National Capital Region (NCR), Regions 1 (Ilocos Region), 2 (Cagayan Valley), 3 (Central Luzon), CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, 5 (Bicol Region), 6 (Western Visayas), 7 (Central Visayas), 8 (Eastern Visayas), 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula), 10 (Northern Mindanao), Caraga, and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) providing temporary shelter to 7,509 families or 26,181 individuals.
Aside from the provision of relief assistance, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian has also ordered the FOs to continue monitoring the situation of locally stranded individuals (LSIs) in sea ports across the country.
Concerned DSWD FOs were able to assist LGUs in the provision of hot meals and ready-to-eat food (RTEF) packs to LSIs stranded at the Pasacao Port in Camarines Sur; Tabaco Port in Albay; and Parola Wharf in Iloilo City.
The DSWD spokesperson reminded the public to stay vigilant and to heed the warnings of their local executives to prevent any untoward incidents.
“Patuloy po ang aming paalala sa publiko na mag-ingat at makipag-ugnayan sa kanilang lokal na pamahalaan upang matiyak ang inyong kaligtasaan ngayong nakararanas pa rin tayo ng masamang panahon,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao said. (AKDL)