Manila: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) continues to provide additional relief augmentation to local government units (LGUs) affected by the combined effects of the southwest monsoon or 'habagat' and tropical cyclones Luis and Maymay.
According to Philippines News Agency, the DSWD Disaster Response Operations Management, Information and Communication reported that the department has provided 754,881 family food packs (FFPs) to affected families and individuals. Additionally, 9,720 non-food items (NFIs) and 16,869 ready-to-eat food boxes have been distributed to all affected communities.
Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the DSWD's Disaster Response Management Group stated in a news release that the DSWD continues to coordinate with local governments to determine their needs so that relief assistance can be immediately sent. The department assures that it has enough stockpile and resources to continue responding as communities remain affected by inclement weather.
The DSWD maintains approximately 4.4 million boxes of FFPs, strategically prepositioned across different warehouses. Financial assistance is also being provided to affected families, especially those whose houses have been damaged, with more than PHP1.6 million worth of cash aid distributed under the DSWD's Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program.
In Region 1 (Ilocos Region), the DSWD's regional Field Office delivered 5,170 additional FFPs to affected families in Dagupan City, despite deep floodwaters in several parts of the city. With the assistance of the Dagupan City government, the Bureau of Fire Protection, and the Philippine National Police, the relief items were transported to communities affected by flooding and continued rainfall. The DSWD's FO 1 has released 57,540 food and non-food items as augmentation support to affected LGUs in the region.
In Calabarzon, the DSWD's regional office delivered an additional 1,500 FFPs to affected families in Bi±an City, Laguna, including families affected by flooding in Barangay Canlalay. Meanwhile, in the Cordillera Administrative Region, the DSWD's Field Office CAR provided 2,000 FFPs to college students isolated due to dangerous roads and adverse weather conditions.
Other DSWD field offices in the affected regions are also sending additional augmentation support to LGUs. Assistant Secretary Dumlao emphasized that the entire DSWD, including field offices, is focused on addressing the adverse weather, ensuring that people are assured of a sufficient stockpile and continued distribution of assistance as long as needed.
