DSWD: Calamity aid reaches P293M

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has extended P293 million in assistance to families and individuals affected by successive weather systems across the Philippines, an official reported Friday.

Tropical cyclones “Crising,” “Dante” and the continuing downpour from typhoon “Emong” and the southwest monsoon, or “habagat,” have impacted 1,380,087 families, or 4,934,207 individuals, across 5,501 barangays nationwide.

Assistant 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 coming days and weeks. This aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive that no one should be left behind during times of disaster.

“Our relief operations are ongoing in various areas in partnership with our local government units (LGUs),” said Dumlao, who also serves as DSWD spokesperson.

“Among the aid we have sent are 431,722 family food packs and 3,903 ready-to-eat food (RTEF) boxes from the DSWD. This also includes non-food items for our evacuees, such as blankets, hygiene, family, and kitchen kits and water filtration units.”

A total of 53,132 families, or 189,346 individuals, are currently seeking temporary shelter in 1,609 evacuation centers across the National Capital Region (NCR), Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Negros Island Region (NIR), Central Visayas, Caraga, and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

“Even with intermittent rains due to successive weather disturbances, our disaster front-liners, or ‘Angels in Red Vests,’ are out daily to deliver aid,” Dumlao said. “We also have Secretary Rex Gatchalian partnering with us; since Monday, he has been personally checking on the condition of disaster-affected families and ensuring their needs receive attention and proper support.”

In the Ilocos Region, currently battered by typhoon “Emong,” disaster-hit families expressed gratitude to DSWD’s Field Office 1 personnel for leading the swift distribution of aid in all affected areas. Reynaldo Tabag from Dumalneg, Ilocos Norte, who received FFPs, lauded the DSWD for addressing their needs as the extreme weather conditions disrupted their source of income.

“This is a big help for us who couldn’t work during this typhoon because there’s no other source of income at this time, so thank you very much for the food packs you provided,” Reynaldo said.

Dumlao stated that 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.

“In various parts of the country, especially those most affected by flooding and heavy rains, our Field Offices are deploying Mobile Kitchens to provide hot meals,” Dumlao pointed out. “Our Multipurpose Mobile Command Center units are also multipurpose. They not only speed up our coordination for disaster response but also provide free WiFi and electricity sources to those most in need.”