QUEZON CITY -- In continuation of the disaster response operations on the inclement weather brought by the Shear Line and the Northeast Monsoon, officials of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) went to Region X to lead in the ongoing distribution of relief aid to affected families.

Today, Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao, Assistant Secretary Elaine Fallarcuna, and Disaster Response Management Bureau (DRMB) Officer-In-Charge (OIC) Michael Cristopher Mathay went to Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental to supervise the provision of financial assistance, family food packs, and potable water, to an initial of 1,000 families displaced by the floods and heavy rain.

Meanwhile, the Department, through the DSWD Field Office (FO) V, distributed cash assistance and family food packs to each of the families of the missing fishermen, including a lone survivor, in Viga, Catanduanes.

In Eastern Visayas, the DSWD FO VIII augmented FFPs in the municipalities of Mercedes, Jipapad, Oras, and Taft, Eastern Samar.

As of the December 28 12NN report, the DSWD has already provided augmentation assistance worth more than P10.2 million to local government units (LGUs) in Regions V, VIII, IX, and X.

The DSWD and its concerned FOs are also continuously repacking FFPs in its various regional warehouses to guarantee the sufficient supply of food items for distribution to affected families.

Based on the latest count, about 18,210 families or 74,214 persons are currently staying in 226 evacuation centers in Regions X, XI, and CARAGA, while 14,753 families or 69,208 individuals are temporarily staying with their relatives or friends.

The Department will continue to coordinate with concerned LGUs to monitor the condition of all affected citizens and ensure that all their needs are met. (DSWD)