CALAMBA CITY (PIA) - Families affected by 'Habagat' or southwest monsoon and typhoon Goring have climbed to 2,844 or 11,193 individuals in Calabarzon, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region IV-A said.
In its Sept 1 report, the DSWD said 934 families or 3,299 individuals sought temporary shelter in 52 evacuation centers in Cavite, Batangas, Rizal and Laguna provinces while, 1,835 families totaling 7,542 persons stayed with relatives or friends.
On the other hand, 75 families or 352 individuals remained in their homes in the towns of Tanza and Dasmariñas City in Cavite, and Balayan, Bauan, Cuenca, Laurel and Nasugbu in Batangas Province.
DSWD Director for Calabarzon Barry Chua reported that local governments provided assistance amounting to P167,590. This includes P159,200 from the provincial government of Cavite and other affected LGUs, and P5,435 from the municipal government of Alitagtag. Additionally, other partners have provided food and non-food Items worth P2,955.
“(We) requested LGUs with reported affected families to provide life-saving assistance to those with the most urgent need and ensure that duplication of assistance will be minimized,” he said.
Chua cited that the DSWD Calabarzon has stockpiled 79,506 Family Food Packs (FFPs) worth P49,041,414.53, and a total of 31,114 bottled water valued at P616,903 in their filed office and satellite warehouses. The Calabarzon field office has stored raw materials worth P4,107,972.52, which can produce up to 10,000 food packs.
The DSWD has also prepared 23,963 non-food items worth P41,033,567.44 in its warehouses with P5,847,725.80 in standby funds to purchase additional raw materials.
It has coordinated with the Department of Education (DepEd) IV-A for inventory and validation of schools that are serving as evacuation sites for the affected residents.
To ensure the safety of the evacuees, the DSWD has advised their counterparts in the Local Social Welfare and Development Offices (LSWDOs) to assess the dwelling places of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) before allowing them to return home. (PB/DSWD)
