QUEZON CITY -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) assured the public that it has prepositioned enough relief items to immediately respond to the needs of individuals and families hit by the trough of a Low-Pressure Area (LPA) in some parts of Visayas and Mindanao.
The Department, through its Field Office (FO) VI, has prepositioned more than 14,900 Family Food Packs (FFPs) in 19 strategic locations in Western Visayas. Likewise, FO VI is in coordination with the concerned local government units (LGUs) in the region for the release of relief assistance from the Department today, January 4.
The augmentation from the DSWD includes family food packs, hygiene kits, sleeping kits, and blankets that are intended for families whose houses were damaged by the tornado incident in Iloilo City and Oton, Iloilo. As of January 3, the Department recorded a total of 118 damaged houses in the said localities.
A report from FO VI said that some 232 families or 1,160 individuals were affected by the weather disturbance. Of this number, 23 families or 120 persons decided to temporarily stay with their relatives and friends.
On the other hand, in Northern Mindanao, the DSWD, through its FO X, maintains more than 34,000 FFPs that are available for augmentation to the affected LGUs.
The FO, likewise, reported that some 1,304 families or 6,345 individuals from Lanao del Norte were affected by the heavy rains brought about by the trough of an LPA. Furthermore, a total of 45 houses were damaged by the incident.
Meanwhile, in Davao region, the Department, through its FO XI, has already provided Php123,300 worth of humanitarian assistance to the affected population.
The flood incident brought by the trough of an LPA affected some 5,123 families or more than 17,000 individuals in six municipalities in the province of Davao del Norte. To date, FO XI reported that 202 families or 702 individuals are currently taking temporary shelter in five evacuation centers in the province.
The Department continues to coordinate with the concerned LGUs to monitor the situation and ensure that the immediate needs of the affected population are met. (DSWD)
