Bacolod: The amount of assistance extended by the government to families affected by the combined effects of Severe Tropical Storm Crising (international name Wipha) and the enhanced southwest monsoon or 'habagat' in Western Visayas and Negros Occidental has reached PHP27.44 million, according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
According to Philippines News Agency, the DSWD has already provided PHP21.5 million worth of food and non-food items based on their Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Communication (DROMIC) report as of 5 p.m. on Monday. DSWD Western Visayas information officer Therese Fely Legaste shared this information during an interview on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, humanitarian aid from local government units and non-governmental organizations has reached PHP5.88 million, as indicated in the report. The DROMIC report showed that the total number of affected families currently stands at 77,997, or 284,812 individuals.
Legaste stated that Negros Occidental recorded 46,458 affected families, or 174,208 individuals, across 180 barangays. Additionally, Antique logged 22,873 affected families; Capiz had 4,894 families; Iloilo province recorded 4,265; Iloilo City had 3,529; Aklan documented 1,587; and Bacolod City had 75 affected families.
She further noted that over PHP13 million worth of assistance was provided to Negros, followed by Antique with PHP3.7 million. Of the total number of affected families, some 1,943 families, or 6,957 individuals, remain in evacuation centers, while 11,381 families, or 53,177 individuals, are staying with their relatives or friends.
Legaste emphasized that displaced families in evacuation centers are prioritized in the distribution of assistance. "Displaced families outside evacuation centers are also provided with aid upon assessment," she added. Some families have also returned to their homes as the weather conditions have improved.
"We're hoping and praying that there will be no more rains or flooding so they can go back to their normal lives, especially those whose livelihood is affected," the DSWD official expressed. The DSWD in Western Visayas is prepared with PHP123.06 million worth of food and non-food items and PHP2.79 million in standby funds for its continuous relief operations.
