The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Sunday said it has provided an initial P720,925 in assistance to families affected by Tropical Storm Ramil.

According to Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the DSWD’s Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG), the initial aid included 382 family food packs (FFPs) and 547 ready-to-eat food (RTEF) boxes.

“Nagsimula na po tayong mamigay ng paunang relief aid sa mga apektadong pamilya ng Bagyong Ramil. Kaagapay po tayo ng mga local government units (LGUs) para makapagbigay ng agarang tulong at kapanatagan sa mga apektadong pamilya, na palaging bilin ng ating Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., tuwing may sakuna,” Dumlao, who also serves as DSWD spokesperson, said.

Heavy rains brought by the storm have so far affected 14,500 families or 30,368 individuals across 147 barangays in Regions II (Cagayan Valley), III (Central Luzon), V (Bicol Region), and VI (Western Visayas).

Of those affected, 3,028 families or 7,834 individuals are taking temporary shelter in 131 evacuation centers in the four regions.

“Sa Bicol Region, kung saan nagkaroon ng suspension ng sea travel, agad pong nagpa-abot ang mga disaster response personnel natin ng RTEF sa mga locally stranded individuals. Mabilis rin tayong nakapamahagi dito sa Sorsogon, kung saan unang nag-landfall itong Bagyong Ramil,” Dumlao added.

The DSWD expects more local government requests for augmentation support as the number of affected families is projected to rise once data consolidation is completed and Ramil exits the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

Dumlao said the agency remains ready to deliver more aid, with nearly 2 million FFPs prepositioned nationwide in DSWD warehouses.

“Bagamat marami pong pinagkakaabalahan ang DSWD dahil na rin sa mga major earthquakes na nangyari at bagyo na sunod-sunod na nanalasa nitong nakaraan ay sapat po at tuloy-tuloy ang replenishment ng relief supplies natin and we are in solidarity with our President in ensuring that no Filipino would go hungry in times of disasters or emergencies,” she said.

The DSWD also maintains more than ₱169 million in standby funds ready to support ongoing disaster response operations.