A total of 15,535 family food packs were distributed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Bicol (DSWD-5) to families affected by the shear line across various provinces.

In a phone interview Tuesday, Claudio Villareal, chief of the DSWD-5 (Bicol) Disaster Response Management Division, said the family food packs worth PHP8.5 million were immediately distributed to families in Camarines Norte and Catanduanes.

Villareal said the food packs have reached the towns of Labo, Vinzons, Mercedes, and San Vicente in Camarines Norte, and Bato, Baras, Caramoran, Gigmoto, San Andres and Panganiban in Catanduanes.

“This is part of the agency’s continuous disaster response efforts, ensuring that affected households receive timely assistance at the height of this weather disturbance,” he said.

Villareal added that the agency is ensuring all affected families receive the necessary relief and support during the emergency.

“It responds to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s call to maintain a proactive response to support families in times of disasters,” he said.

Villareal added that they are continuously coordinating with other affected local government units to conduct beneficiary assessments and augment food packs.

Meanwhile, Gremil Alexis Naz of the Office of Civil Defense in Bicol (OCD-5) reported that 13,845 families, or 49,817 persons from 123 barangays, were affected by the shear line.

Thirteen barangays in Catanduanes and Camarines Norte reported flooding incidents, while three national roads and nine local roads were not passable to all types of vehicles. (PNA)