26,000 families spend Christmas in shelters

While many Filipinos are celebrating Christmas at home with family and friends, more than 26,000 families — nearly 92,000 people — will spend the holiday in evacuation centers across the country, still recovering from past disasters.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has been closely monitoring these families. As of 22 December, the Disaster Response Management Bureau (DRMB) reported 845 active centers sheltering 26,053 families nationwide. Central Visayas remains the most affected, with 479 centers housing 45,805 individuals, followed by CALABARZON with 19,998, and the Negros Island Region with 14,747 displaced persons.

“As per Secretary Rex Gatchalian’s directive, we are monitoring all evacuation centers with a human-rights-based approach,” said DRMB director Maria Isabel Lanada. “We focus on protecting vulnerable groups — children, women, and the elderly — and we help LGUs provide child-friendly spaces, women-friendly areas, lactation rooms, prayer rooms, and even conjugal spaces.”

In the spirit of Christmas, Lanada shared how DSWD field offices are bringing joy directly to displaced families:

“Our ‘Angels in Red Vests’ are like Santa Claus — some teams are even caroling while conducting monitoring and safety audits. One of my directives is to visit evacuation centers, including those in Rizal, to make sure families feel the holiday spirit,” she said.

She reminded everyone that Christmas should reach those facing hardship. “We hope joy and resilience remain in everyone’s hearts. Like Christ, born in a humble manger, let us stay humble, hold on to God’s grace, and keep our hearts kind,” Lanada said, wishing all IDPs a Merry Christmas.

The DSWD, in coordination with local government units, will continue providing food and non-food assistance, while also preparing for safety audits and facility improvements in 2026. Plans include expanding child- and women-friendly spaces, health rooms, prayer areas, handwashing stations, storage areas, and laundry facilities for 1,000 families.

This Christmas, while many celebrate in comfort, the DSWD is ensuring that displaced families are not forgotten — and that the spirit of the season reaches them, too.