The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Monday reported that it had disbursed P45.88 million worth of humanitarian assistance to communities affected by the enhanced southwest monsoon (Habagat) and Super Typhoon Inday.

Based on the 6:00 a.m. July 13 Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center (DROMIC) report, regional Field Offices (FOs) of the agency has distributed 54,902 family food packs (FFPs), 1,732 non-food items (NFIs), and 6,094 ready-to-eat-food (RTEFs) to all affected communities. 

“The DSWD continues to assist various local government units (LGUs) in addressing the needs of our fellow Filipinos,” Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said in an IBC TV interview.

“We have already provided more than P45 million worth of humanitarian assistance,” she added, noting assistance consists of family food packs, non-food items, ready-to-eat food packs, and financial assistance. 

The DSWD reported 134 evacuation centers nationwide are currently providing temporary shelter to 4,338 families or 17,794 individuals affected by the southwest monsoon and recent typhoon as of 6:00 a.m., Monday morning. 

Dumlao stressed that the agency also led camp coordination and camp management, as well as in the protection of internally displaced persons (IDPs). 

“We are capacitating our local camp managers to ensure that the conditions of those staying in evacuation centers are properly maintained through the provision of fully functional water, sanitation, and health facilities,” the spokesperson pointed out.

Latest report from the agency showed that more than 150,000 families, or an estimated 669,000 individuals, were affected by the recent typhoon.  

Regions mostly hardest hit by Typhoon Inday include Region 2 -Cagayan Valley, Region 4 - Calabarzon, Region 5 - Bicol Region, Region 6 - Negros Island Region, Region 9 - Zamboanga Peninsula, Region 10 - Northern Mindanao, Region 11 - Davao Region, Region 12 - SOCCSKARGEN, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

In Davao Region, 1,200 boxes of family food packs (FFPs) were hauled for delivery to Barangay Camalian in Jose Abad Santos town in Davao Occidental.

Regional offices in SOCCSKSARGEN, meanwhile, facilitated the distribution of food packs to affected families in Malungon, Malapatan, and Barangay Baliton in Glan, Sarangani as well as in Lake Sebu and Koronadal City in South Cotabato.

Casualties, assistance following typhoon

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that 21 casualties had been recorded in connection with the recent typhoon as of 10:00 a.m. on July 13.

The DSWD said it is coordinating with local government units (LGUs) to provide financial assistance to the bereaved families through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program.

The agency also provided financial assistance among families affected by the landslide in Region 12 through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program.

“We also continue to conduct rapid damage assessment and needs analysis in coordination with the LGUs. If there is a need for us to augment the resources of the LGUs and implement other interventions, the DSWD will do so,” Dumlao said.