As Tropical Storm Ramil exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Monday, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) continued to extend aid to families affected by the cyclone’s onslaught.

Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the DSWD’s Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) said that field offices in the storm’s path have distributed more than P5.4 million worth of humanitarian assistance to affected individuals and families.

“Patuloy ang pamamahagi ng DSWD sa mga naapektuhan ng Bagyong Ramil lalo na sa Western Visayas kung saan malaki ang naging pinsala. Kasama sa ibinahaging tulong ng ahensya ay ang mga boxes of family food packs (FFPs) sa mga naapektuhang pamilya at mga ready-to-eat food (RTEF) boxes para sa mga locally stranded individuals (LSIs) sa mga pantalan,” said Dumlao, who also serves as the DSWD spokesperson.

According to Dumlao, the largest amount of assistance was distributed in Western Visayas at over P3 million worth of food and non-food items (FNFIs), followed by Central Luzon with more than P1.1 million, and over P1 million worth of aid for affected families in the Bicol Region.

“Bukod sa pamamahagi ng tulong, nakikipag-ugnayan din ang DSWD sa mga concerned local government units (LGUs) para masigurong nasa maayos na kalagayan ang mga internally displaced persons (IDPs) na nasa mga evacuation centers at pati na rin ang mga pamilyang nanunuluyan pansamantala sa kanilang mga kaibigan o kamag-anak,” Dumlao added.

The DSWD reported that 3,778 families, or 12,550 individuals, are currently taking temporary shelter in 237 evacuation centers across Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, Bicol Region, and Western Visayas. Meanwhile, around 2,719 families or 9,962 individuals are staying with relatives or friends.

“Sa ating mga kababayan, kahit sabay-sabay po ang mga disaster response operations ng DSWD, makakasiguro po kayo na sustained ang pagtulong ng DSWD sa mga naapektuhan ng Bagyong Ramil,” Dumlao assured the public.