The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has dispatched a total of 2,086,314 family food packs (FFPs) as part of the continuing disaster relief efforts for families and individuals affected by the southwest monsoon (habagat) and Tropical Cyclones Crising, Dante, and Emong that hit the country in July.
“Alinsunod sa utos ng ating Pangulo (Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.), patuloy ang ating disaster operations para sa nasalanta ng nakaraang magkakasunod na kalamidad. Mahigpit na bilin na huwag pababayaan yung mga kababayan natin na lubhang naapektuhan (In line with the directives of President Marcos, our disaster operations continue to those affected by successive calamities. He strictly ordered not to neglect our most affected countrymen),” Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the DSWD’s Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) said in a statement on Monday.
Based on the latest report of the Disaster Response Operations Management, Information, and Communication (DROMIC), more than 2.8 million families or 10.3 million individuals from 9,809 barangays located in 18 regions, including the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), were affected by the successive weather systems.
As of press time, the total humanitarian aid provided by the DSWD is more than PHP1.4 billion, which include boxes of FFPs; ready-to-eat-food (RTEF); family, hygiene, kitchen, sleeping kits; family tents, laminated sacks, modular tents; water containers; and other non-food items as needed.
The amount also includes the financial aid provided to 10,250 beneficiaries under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS).
Psychosocial activities are also being conducted by DSWD social workers for the women, children, and other vulnerable groups. To date, the DSWD has provided psychosocial first aid to 1,546 beneficiaries.
“We continue to collaborate with the local government units (LGUs), as well as sectoral groups, to ensure that we really reach all those who are in need. Secretary Rex Gatchalian has given instructions to remain vigilant and efficient in our disaster response actions especially as we are at the height of the typhoon season,” Dumlao said.
The DSWD spokesperson, meanwhile, assured the public that the DSWD has ample supply of food packs and continues to replenish its stockpile of FFPs in preparation for Severe Tropical Storm Gorio.
“At present, the DSWD has more than 1.9 million FFPs as stockpiles in various warehouses nationwide, and production continues to ensure that we are always ready to respond to the food needs of disaster hit families,” Dumlao said. (PNA)
