The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has provided 309,284 family food packs (FFPs) to families and communities hit by the recent major weather disturbances, an agency official reported on Tuesday.
“This is the latest cumulative tally of the family food packs that have been released to local government units (LGUs) that were battered by Tropical Cyclones Mirasol, Nando, and Opong. Malaki-laki na pero patuloy tayo sa pamamahagi alinsunod sa utos ng ating Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at ni Secretary Rex Gatchalian (The volume is already substantial, but we continue to distribute in compliance with the directive of our President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Secretary Rex Gatchalian),” Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) said.
The bulk of the FFPs was distributed in Bicol Region with 82,553; Western Visayas with 52,094; and Ilocos Region with 43,974.
Meanwhile, Eastern Visayas got 36,178 FFPs; Cagayan Valley with 32,141; Central Luzon, 18,200; Cordillera Administrative Region, 15,387; Calabarzon, 14,428; Mimaropa, 7,188; Negros Island Region, 5,660; Soccsksargen, 679; National Capital Region, 650; and Caraga, 211.
Dumlao said the numbers are expected to increase as the DSWD intensifies its efforts to ensure that Opong-hit families residing in hard-to-reach areas are provided with the appropriate assistance.
The DSWD is also continuously distributing non-food items (NFIs) to provide complete aid to affected families, especially those who have been displaced and are yet to resume normal lives, she said.
A total of 1,240,758 families or 4,517,474 individuals in various regions across the country have been affected by the recent weather disturbances, based on the 6 a.m. Disaster Response Operations Management Information Communication (DROMIC) report.
There are 20,622 families or 74,283 persons currently taking temporary shelter in 940 evacuation centers in Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, and Soccsksargen.
Dumlao said various mobile kitchens of the DSWD’s concerned Field Offices (FOs) remain on the move to assist LGUs in providing hot meals to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
The DSWD’s Mobile Command Centers (MCC) managed by field office personnel likewise streamline inter-coordination for response and early recovery efforts in disaster-stricken areas while providing stable internet connectivity and a source of electricity.
On Monday, Dumlao said the DSWD Field Office 5 deployed its mobile water treatment unit in Masbate City to provide clean water, especially to the evacuees.
“The DSWD maintains 2.4 million FFPs and PHP379 million stand-by funds to sustain ongoing response efforts for disaster-hit areas,” Dumlao said. (PNA)
