Candoni: The Department of Social Welfare and Development-Negros Island Region (DSWD-NIR) is set to establish a warehouse for the prepositioning of food and non-food items in the sixth district of Negros Occidental. This strategic move aims to enhance the region's preparedness and response to natural disasters.

According to Philippines News Agency, a report from the Disaster Response Management Division (DRMD) indicated that a team led by officer-in-charge Chief Beverly Salazar inspected the proposed warehouse site in the municipality of Candoni on Monday. The team also conducted courtesy visits to the cities of Kabankalan, Himamaylan, and La Carlota, areas recently affected by floods resulting from monsoon rains in central and southern Negros.

The DRMD emphasized the department's commitment to strengthening local disaster response capacity and ensuring prompt assistance to affected families. On Tuesday, the distribution of family food packs continued in southern Negros, targeting residents in Valladolid, San Enrique, Ilog, Pontevedra, Isabela, and Binalbagan.

Information from the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC)-NIR revealed that 44,378 families, or 166,335 individuals, in Negros Occidental were impacted by the recent continuous rains and flooding. Relief efforts have reached 1,287 families, or 4,802 people, in 40 evacuation centers, with an additional 9,111 families, or 44,680 individuals, receiving aid outside these centers.

The most affected areas include local government units in the fifth district, such as Hinigaran, Binalbagan, Isabela, Moises Padilla, and Himamaylan City, as well as those in the sixth district, including Ilog, Cauayan, Candoni, Hinoba-an, Kabankalan City, and Sipalay City. As of Tuesday, the combined assistance provided by the DSWD and the local government units to affected residents totaled PHP13.26 million.