The Office of the Vice President, through the Disaster Operations Center, on Wednesday started distributing relief items to families affected by the combined onslaught of Typhoon Crising and the southwest monsoon, locally known as habagat.

The OVP has allocated assistance for approximately 5,900 families in various affected areas across the country.

So far, the OVP-DOC has distributed around 2,900 relief boxes to residents in Western Visayas and Northern Luzon. An additional 3,000 boxes are scheduled for delivery in Pangasinan beginning Thursday, 23 July.

"Naglo-load na po tayo ngayon ng mga relief boxes para ipamahagi natin sa ating mga kababayan na talagang nangangailangan," Castelo said in an interview at the OVP-DOC office in Quezon City.

Each relief box contains food packs, hygiene kits, blankets, sleeping mats, mosquito nets (kulambo), slippers, expandable water jugs, and other essential supplies.

Castelo also said that the OVP-DOC will be providing relief boxes to families in Metro Manila that were hardly hit by severe flooding due to heavy rains brought by the habagat.

"Of course unahin natin 'yun pinakamalapit dito sa Metro Manila kung saan ang location natin dito sa gitna ng Quezon City. So marami dito sa paligid lang na nangangailangan ng tulong at tiyak makaabot na tayo hanggang Pangasinan para magpadala ng tulong," she said.

Castelo also explained that the OVP's relief effort is just an augmentation, especially in areas that were not reached by the relief aid.

"Itong ginagawa ngayon ng OVP is only for augmentation, kumbaga dinagdagan lang natin 'yung ginagawa ng iba't ibang ahensya dahil hindi naman po natin masabi lahat ng kanilang tulong ay nakakapagbigay sa lahat," Castelo said.

The OVP-DOC also deployed the kalusugan food trucks to serve hot meals to first responders.

"Mahalaga din po sa atin na maka-address ng mga pangangailangan ng first responders. Ito naman yung pinupuntahan ng ating kalusugan food trucks, at least makabigay tayo ng reliefs sa kanila sa pamamagitan ng mga hot meals na ibinibigay ng Office of the Vice President," Castelo said.

Castelo also said that the OVP has extended the operations of the libreng sakay or free bus rides until 10 p.m.

"Yung ating libreng sakay ay patukoy na umaandar dahil alam naman natin yung mga pangangailangan ngayon," she said.

"Ito po ay pandagdag na rin sa tulong na alam natin maraming na-stranded kung saan saang lugar kaya po ang libreng sakay natin ay patuloy ang pag-operate hanggang madaling araw," the OVP spokesperson added.

The routes of the OVP Libreng Sakay buses in Metro Manila: two buses in EDSA Carousel (Monumento – PITX route); two buses in Quiapo – Commonwealth route; and one bus in PITX – Naic, Cavite route.