The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 5 (Bicol) has provided PHP30.2 million worth of relief assistance to the families affected by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami) as of Thursday morning.

In an interview, DSWD-5 disaster response and management division chief Claudio Villareal Jr. said they continue to provide family food packs and non-food items to households in the region’s six provinces.

The DSWD-5 recorded 345,548 families or 1,669,507 persons affected by “Kristine” in the region.

“We already distributed 45,182 family food packs to the affected families, or a total of PHP30,069,315 worth; 710 non-food items; or PHP177,500 worth of assistance to families from Albay, Sorsogon, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Masbate, and Catanduanes,” Villarreal said.

He also said they have recorded a total of 47,924 displaced families or 183,429 persons from all provinces, mostly in Albay and Camarines Sur.

“We are monitoring a total of 40,121 families, or 151,189 persons, who are inside 4,186 evacuation centers, while 7,803 families, or 32,240 persons, are staying with relatives,” he said.

Villareal added that ongoing relief distributions are being conducted in the towns of Camalig, Guinobatan, Ligao, Pioduran, and Tabaco City in Albay; the towns of Daet, San Vicente and Vinzons in Camarines Norte; and the towns of Milaor, Nabua and the cities of Iriga and Naga in Camarines Sur.

He said they already provided the central office with the needed additional augmentation of relief goods in the region.

“So far, family food packs and non-food items from our national resource center and in Visayas resource center are en route in Bicol. All of our personnel, more than 2,000, are also helping in the relief operations,” he said.

Villareal also said the DSWD-5 mobile command center is already in Camarines Sur to provide internet connection and charging area to the residents. (PNA)