QUEZON CITY -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development has already released P110.85 million in various assistance to families displaced by severe tropical storm Paeng even as President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. directed government agencies to continue their rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts in hard-hit areas. 

The DSWD’s Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center (DROMIC) report released on Wednesday, Nov 2 showed that humanitarian assistance provided to affected families has reached a total of P110,852,943.98; of which, P100,393,280.07 from the DSWD, P10,391,908.75 from the Local Government Units (LGUs), P22,060.00 from Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), and P45,695.16 from other partners.

The DROMIC report also showed a total of 1,037,915 families or 4,230,121 persons were affected in 8,242 barangays in Regions NCR, CAR, I, II, III, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII, Caraga, and BARMM. 

Displaced population is at 190,070 families or 789,002 (regions NCR, CAR, I, II, III, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII, Caraga, and BARMM), while a total of 13,696 houses were damaged; of which, 1,928 are totally damaged and 11,768 are partially damaged (Regions CAR, I, II, III, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII, Caraga, and BARMM).

On Wednesday, President Marcos placed Calabarzon, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, and BARMM under a state of calamity for six months due to the devastation brought by STS Paeng.

“All departments and other concerned government agencies are also directed to coordinate with the LGUs to provide or augment the basic services and facilities of affected areas,” read the proclamation signed for the President by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.

According to the issuance, the President may include other areas in the declaration of a state of calamity if warranted and consider the continuing damage assessment in affected areas based on the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

Meanwhile, 2,993 beneficiaries from regions CAR, II, CALABARZON, VI, IX, XII and BARMM received financial assistance through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) of the DSWD.

The different bureaus of the DSWD such as the Disaster Response Management Bureau (DRMB) and the National Resource and Logistics Management Bureau (NRLMB) conducted activities in support to the efforts in helping families affected by STS Paeng.

The DSWD-DRMB closely coordinated with DSWD field offices and partner agencies for disaster response and relief augmentation requirements. The DRMB also allocated and prepared 50,000 FFPs (DSWD FO XI); 10,000 FFPs (DSWD FO CALABARZON); 20,000 FFPs, 40,000 regular slotted container (RSC) and 500 bottled water for DSWD FO VI. (CS/ PIA-PMD)