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P1.1-B relief flows into storm-hit areas

Sean A. Magbanua · Aug 23, 2026, 10:34 PM

SUPPLIES, including large shipments of rice for the production of family food packs, arrive one after another at the Visayas Disaster Resource Center in Mandaue City, Cebu, as the DSWD builds up its reserves for communities needing immediate assistance. — PHOTOGRAPHS courtesy of DSWD

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said Sunday it has distributed more than P1.1 billion worth of humanitarian assistance to communities affected by tropical cyclones "Luis" and "Maymay" and the enhanced southwest monsoon or habagat.

“We started during typhoon 'Luis,' then typhoon 'Maymay,' and then this enhanced southwest monsoon, and we will continue to provide assistance to the local government units,” DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said in a DZBB interview Sunday.

Dumlao said the agency’s humanitarian assistance has already exceeded P1.1 billion.

The assistance includes more than 1.7 million family food packs, ready-to-eat food, non-food items and other forms of financial assistance.

“This [assistance] continues, especially as we’re expecting another weather system to affect the country in the coming weeks,” Dumlao said.

The DSWD continues to coordinate with local government units to deliver the necessary assistance to affected areas amid the ongoing rains.

Assistance to affected areas

Dumlao reported that in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), the agency has provided burial assistance and medical assistance to those injured and affected by landslides.

In Baguio, the DSWD also provided landslide victims with transitory shelter assistance, covering rent for three to six months while the LGU arranged housing units for immediate relocation.

She added that in some areas, the DSWD distributed Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) to areas under a state of calamity as part of the government’s intervention to help affected families.

According to Dumlao, most of the agency’s food packs are currently being delivered to Central Luzon, particularly Pampanga and Bulacan.

“Many of our fellow Filipinos really evacuated from their homes because of the high water levels [flooding],” the DSWD spokesperson said.