The total amount of assistance extended by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to families and individuals affected by consecutive weather disturbances has reached PHP293 million, an official reported on Friday.

Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the DSWD’s Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) said the southwest monsoon and tropical cyclones Crising, Dante, and Emong have affected 1,380,087 families or 4,934,207 individuals in 5,501 barangays across the country.

“The prompt provision of family food packs (FFPs) and non-food items (NFIs) to communities hit by heavy rainfall and flood will continue in the next few days and weeks in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. that no one should be left behind during times of disaster,” she said in a statement.

“Tuluy-tuloy po ang relief operations natin sa iba’t-ibang lugar katuwang ang mga local government units (LGUs) natin (Relief operations in various areas are ongoing, in coordination with our LGUs).”

To date, the DSWD has distributed 431,722 FFPs and 3,903 ready-to-eat food (RTEF) boxes. Meanwhile, the NFIs distributed include blankets; hygiene, family, and kitchen kits; and water filtration units.

Dumlao said the DSWD is maximizing all disaster response resources to provide not just immediate, but adequate and comprehensive relief to uplift the spirits of disaster-hit Filipinos.

“Pabugso-bugso man yung pag-ulan dahil sa mga successive weather disturbances, araw-araw pong sumusuong yung mga disaster frontliners o Angels in Red Vests natin para makapaghatid ng tulong (Everyday, our disaster frontliners or Angels in Red Vests brave the rains to give assistance),” she said.

Since Monday, Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian has been personally checking on the conditions of affected families in the evacuation centers to ensure that their daily needs are met. (PNA)