The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) announced on Saturday that it has distributed at least PHP 4.1 million worth of humanitarian aid to families impacted by Severe Tropical Storm Crising and the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat).
During a news forum in Quezon City, DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao reported that as of 6 a.m. Saturday, over 68,000 families, or approximately 215,000 individuals, across Regions 1 (Ilocos Region), 2 (Cagayan Valley), 3 (Central Luzon), MIMAROPA, 5 (Bicol Region), 6 (Western Visayas), 7 (Central Visayas), and 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula) have been affected by the severe weather, with around 5,400 families currently residing in evacuation centers.
Dumlao highlighted that the DSWD has more than PHP 2.9 billion in standby funds and stockpiles, which include Quick Response Funds (QRF) and approximately 3 million family food packs strategically prepositioned across the country.
“Patuloy pa rin po ‘yung production ng ating mga FFPs (family food packs) sa National Resource Operations Center (NROC) at sa Visayas Disaster Response Center (VDRC). Kung kaya nga po kung kinakailangan mag-replenish tayo ng mga stockpiles natin sa ating mga regional warehouses and in the last miles, agad po natin magagawa ‘yan sapagkat tuloy-tuloy ‘yung ating production sa ating mga major hubs,” Dumlao stated, emphasizing the ongoing production of family food packs and the agency’s readiness to replenish stockpiles as needed.