By Lucia F. Broño

QUEZON CITY, Aug 2 (PIA) - - Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman led Tuesday the distribution of relief goods to some 145 families housed at the evacuation center in Brgy. 105, Tondo, Manila.

The affected families are informal settlers of Happyland whose houses were destroyed by two barges at the height of strong rains and winds brought by typhoon ‘Gener’ on Sunday.

DSWD-NCR Regional Director, Ma. Alicia S. Bonoan, and 2010 Miss Universe 4th Runner Up and DSWD Ambassadress of Children’s Welfare, Ma. Venus Raj assisted in the distribution.

Soliman, in her meeting with the evacuees assured their immediate transfer to the nearby Aroma temporary shelter.

DSWD-NCR will closely coordinate with the city of Manila and the National Housing Authority (NHA) to facilitate the transfer of the evacuees.

“We are working out the transfer of these families to a safe place where huge waves brought about by typhoons will no longer destroy their houses and endanger their lives, “ Secretary Soliman emphasized during the distribution of relief goods for the 145 displaced families at Barangay 105, Baseco Compound.

As of July 31, four evacuation centers in the National Capital Region provide temporary shelter to 307 families or 1,243 individuals.

Various forms of assistance have been extended by the national agencies, local government units, and non-government organizations to the affected families.

Meanwhile, Secretary Soliman disclosed that the DSWD has prepositioned some P43.82 million composed of P4.77 million standby funds and P39 million relief goods ready for distribution to LGUs affected by typhoon Gener. (LFB/RJB-PIA NCR/DSWD NCR)