Iloilo: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), local government units, and non-government organizations have provided over PHP2.68 million worth of humanitarian assistance to families from Western Visayas and Negros Occidental affected by bad weather as of Friday. In an interview, DSWD Western Visayas information officer Therese Fely Legaste said the agency has initially distributed 3,824 family food packs (FFPs) and 40 sleeping kits to affected families.

According to Philippines News Agency, 1,608 FFPs were distributed in Antique, followed by Negros Occidental with 1,330, Aklan with 848, Capiz with 25, and Iloilo with 23. The sleeping kits were released to Negros Occidental. "We have standby food packs and non-food items available in our warehouses and also prepositioned in various local government units," Legaste said.

Over 32,793 FFPs are stockpiled at the regional warehouse in Oton, Iloilo, 28,729 in Bacolod, 7,588 in Aklan, 12,962 in Antique, 12,899 in Capiz, 2,000 in Guimaras, 12,875 in Iloilo, and 36,009 in Negros Occidental. As of Friday noon, bad weather has affected 8,921 families, or 31,251 individuals from 30 local government units. "Thirteen municipalities from Antique are affected," she added.

Currently, 3,018 families are in evacuation centers while 1,103 families are seeking temporary shelters with their friends or relatives. The DSWD also recorded 114 damaged houses. Legaste said the DSWD emergency operations center is also on red alert status in response to the inclement weather to ensure full operational readiness, which includes 24/7 monitoring, inter-agency coordination, and immediate deployment of assistance to vulnerable areas across Western Visayas.

She stated that quick response teams at the municipal and provincial levels have also been activated effective 5 p.m. Thursday.