Manila: More than PHP32 million in relief aid has been extended by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to local government units (LGUs) affected by the widespread rains and floods in Mindanao and some parts of the Visayas, Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian said Thursday.
According to Philippines News Agency, the cost of assistance quickly escalated as the agency worked tirelessly to provide immediate aid to disaster-stricken communities, following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive to ensure families have peace of mind amid the disaster. Since May 15, the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) has brought heavy rains to various parts of Mindanao, resulting in flash floods and landslides.
On May 27, the ITCZ also caused continuous heavy rains in Iloilo City, leading to flooding in low-lying areas and barangays near creeks and riverbanks. The latest report from the DSWD's Disaster Response Operations Management, Information and Communication indicates that 107,700 families, or 334,579 individuals, in 254 barangays in Western Visayas and the Mindanao regions have been affected by the ITCZ.
Gatchalian assured that providing aid to all disaster-hit populations is a top priority for the DSWD, even in the most remote communities and areas still submerged in floodwaters. Disaster response personnel in the agency's field offices in Mindanao and Western Visayas are actively coordinating with LGUs to lead the delivery and distribution of family food packs (FFPs).
Gatchalian noted that within 24 hours of the flooding incident in Jaro, Iloilo City, personnel visited affected families to assess their situation and distribute family food packs. He reassured the public that despite the ongoing distribution of aid, the agency's stockpile is sufficient to support simultaneous relief operations in the affected localities.
The DSWD has prepositioned food packs in regional warehouses and is closely collaborating with the Ministry of Social Services and Development of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to ensure no one is left behind. Currently, the DSWD maintains 545,806 FFPs and nearly PHP240 million worth of non-food items, such as family, kitchen, and sleeping kits, across Mindanao and Western Visayas.
