The Department of Social Welfare and Development-Bicol (DSWD-5) put up “tent cities” as alternative shelters for families that were affected by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name Trami) in October.

In an interview on Monday, DSWD-5 Director Norman Laurio said the safer and bigger tent cities would be the victims’ temporary homes.

“The emergency shelters are for residents whose homes were totally and partially destroyed by extreme flooding during Kristine. We already have them in Bula and Baao, Camarines Sur,” Laurio said.

He said the agency already distributed 100 family tents that could accommodate five families per tent and 200 modular tents that could accommodate one or two families each.

“We want to ensure that all the needs of our fellow Bicolanos, particularly those who were severely affected, are provided,” Laurio said.

Based on the data from affected local government units (LGUs), a total of 82,193 houses were damaged by Kristine, with 6,493 totally destroyed and 75,700 partially damaged.

He said the DSWD-5 will also provide financial assistance to the affected families.

“It was reported by LGUs that we will still conduct thorough validation. For the totally damaged houses, they will receive PHP10,000, while for those partially damaged, it will be PHP5,000,” he said.

He said 16,782 families, or 70,288 persons, remained displaced by the weather disturbance.

Of the total, 7,086 families, or 31,741 persons are inside 147 evacuation centers, while 9,696 families or 38,547 persons are staying with relatives.

As of Monday, PHP423 million in humanitarian assistance has been provided for the six provinces in the region. (PNA)