The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has initially provided PHP720,925 in aid to families affected by Tropical Storm (TS) Ramil, an agency official said Sunday.
DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the Disaster Response Management Group said the initial aid consisted of 382 family food packs (FFPs) and 547 ready-to-eat-food (RTEF) boxes.
“Kaagapay po tayo ng mga local government units [LGUs] para makapagbigay ng agarang tulong at kapanatagan sa mga apektadong pamilya, na palaging bilin ng ating Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. tuwing may sakuna (We stand with local government units to provide immediate assistance and comfort to affected families, as our President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. always instructed whenever a disaster strikes),” Dumlao, also DSWD spokesperson, said in a news release.
Heavy rains spawned by Ramil have so far affected a total of 14,500 families or 30,368 individuals from 147 barangays in Regions 2 (Cagayan Valley), 3 (Central Luzon), 5 (Bicol Region) and 6 (Western Visayas).
Of those affected, 3,028 families or 7,834 persons are taking temporary shelter in 131 evacuation centers across the four affected regions.
The DSWD expects more LGU requests for augmentation support as the number of affected families is projected to rise once data consolidation is completed and Ramil exits the Philippine Area of Responsibility, she said.
Dumlao affirmed that the agency is well-equipped to provide more aid if the need arises, with close to two million FFPs already prepositioned across agency warehouses nationwide.
“Bagamat marami pong pinagkakaabalahan ang DSWD dahil na rin sa mga major earthquakes na nangyari at bagyo na sunod-sunod na nanalasa nitong nakaraan ay sapat po at tuloy-tuloy ang replenishment ng relief supplies natin (Although the DSWD is facing many challenges due to the major earthquakes that have occurred and the typhoons that have struck in the past, the replenishment of our relief supplies is sufficient and continuous) and we are in solidarity with our President in ensuring that no Filipino would go hungry in times of disasters or emergencies,” Dumlao said.
The DSWD also maintains more than PHP169 million in stand-by funds ready to be tapped for ongoing disaster response operations. (PNA)