About PHP7.8 million worth of aid under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program has been extended to some 1,555 typhoon-hit beneficiaries in Ilocos Norte.

Under the DSWD AICS program, typhoon-hit recipients are given PHP5,000 cash aid and family food packs to help them recover from economic slump due to typhoon.

The DWSD-Ilocos Region also provided 6,302 food and non-food items to local government units (LGUs) in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and La Union.

Majority of the recipients include families with partially damaged houses and those affected by flooding.

As of the moment, personnel of the DSWD are also assessing requests from local governments as basis for extending more assistance to targeted families affected by typhoon.

Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph Manotoc confirmed this on Monday while he led the series of aid distribution in the province.

“On behalf of Ilocos Norte, we are thankful to the DSWD for their unwavering support and assistance to people in need. Rest assured that as your governor, I will do the best I can to help and solicit support from our national government,” he said.

Lolita Valderona, a resident of the village of Bobon in Burgos town, is thankful for the various government support when they were rescued after Typhoon Julian blew their roofing off, when it hit parts of Northern Luzon in the last week of September to early October, and during the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine on the latter part of the month.

“We are so thankful to the DSWD and to our local leaders for the love extended to us. We were having snacks when strong winds blow off our roof. Thank you to those who immediately responded and helped us,” she said in an interview on Monday.

In Pragata, Pasuquin town, Jenalyn Udalindo said their fish cages were damaged by the previous typhoon when the river near them swelled.

“The education of my children was affected because we have no fish harvest. Big thanks to the government because of their swift action, enabling me to be able to send my children amid the crisis,” she said in local dialect.

Rosevera Candy Soberano, a Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) provincial grievance officer of Ilocos Norte, said that amid the flooding in her village at the height of Typhoon Julian, she has to report for work to ensure that needs of typhoon-affected communities are met during disaster operations. (PNA)