‘Kristine’ affects 469 families in Cordillera

BAGUIO CITY - The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) - Cordillera said about 469 families, or 1,568 individuals, in the region have been affected by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami). In its situational update No. 4 issued at 6 a.m. Thursday and submitted to the Cordillera Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC), the DSWD said of the total, 352 families have evacuated, with 225 families taking temporary shelter in 21 evacuation centers across the region, and 127 families opting to shelter with friends and relatives. It also reported damage to 31 houses. 'DSWD is augmenting the resources of the local government units to ensure that there will be no scarcity of food and other necessities of families, especially those in evacuation centers,' DSWD-Cordillera Director Maria Aplaten Catbagan said in an interview Thursday. She said a total of PHP26.7 million worth of humanitarian assistance has been provided. Catbagan assured the public that the regiona l DSWD office has available 67,008 family food packs and 25,361 non-food items, as well as PHP2.9 million in standby fund. 'We have an ongoing validation of the reported displaced persons and validation of the reported forced evacuation in Mountain Province,' she said. She said DSWD is providing augmentation to local government units, citing that 'we practice community-driven response.' Meanwhile, Benguet Governor Melchor Diclas, in a post on his official social media page, said Sitio Camp 2 in Barangay Twin Peaks, Tuba is closed to all types of vehicles due to a road slip. 'All other national roads and bridges within Benguet First District Engineering Office's area are passable to traffic,' the post added. Diclas also said light rain showers are being experienced in Benguet. Source: Philippines News agency