Cebu: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday spearheaded the relief and recovery efforts for the victims of Typhoon Tino (international name Kalmaegi) during his visit to Tiltilon Elementary School in Liloan, Cebu. Marcos checked on the condition of the displaced families temporarily staying at Tiltilon Elementary School and also led the distribution of the relief package from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
According to Philippines News Agency, evacuees received family food packs, health kits, hygiene kits, and sleeping kits, and were provided hot meals. Based on the data from the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), Tiltilon Elementary School in Barangay Cotcot is currently serving as an evacuation center for 126 families or 509 individuals. Tino has affected at least 141,423 families, or 499,360 individuals, when it pummeled many areas in Visayas on Tuesday. Liloan is among the areas severely hit by the typhoon, with numerous casualties and widespread damage reported.
Marcos also went to the Talisay Sports Academy in Talisay City, where he distributed aid to 267 families or 1,110 individuals.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said the agency would also provide cash assistance to families with totally or partially damaged homes, depending on the results of the assessment. Gatchalian noted that the DSWD has already distributed a total of 69,000 family food packs to various local government units (LGUs), including the hardest-hit cities such as Cebu City, Mandaue, and Talisay. He added that the DSWD is also targeting the distribution of 200,000 family food packs to LGUs by Saturday. This, as Gatchalian said, the DSWD has prepositioned a stockpile of 2 million family food packs in strategic warehouses nationwide to ensure a swift disaster response. 'Our supply is more than enough. We have a repacking center in Cebu,' Gatchalian said, as quoted by the PCO.
The PCO said the Department of Health (DOH)- Central Visayas is conducting a rapid health assessment in the evacuation centers to ensure the safety and well-being of evacuees. DOH-Central Visayas Development Management Officer Rolly Villarin said injured individuals may avail of free medical consultations and essential medicines, including maintenance medications, antibiotics, doxycycline for leptospirosis prevention, and anti-tetanus vaccines. Villarin added that routine vaccinations for children are also being administered to prevent potential outbreaks of diseases. He noted that the DOH is conducting Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) assessments to ensure that the water in evacuation centers is safe for both drinking and utility purposes. The DOH is also monitoring the condition of displaced children, pregnant women, and nursing mothers to ensure they receive adequate nutrition, including a sufficient supply of breast milk for babies.
