The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has handed out more than Php27 million in relief assistance to residents affected by flash flood and landslide incidents due to the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and the southwest monsoon affecting parts of Mindanao and the Visayas region, an official of the agency’s Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) said on Monday (July 15).
“The DSWD, through our field offices in the different regions in Visayas and Mindanao, are continuously sending food and non-food items (FNIs) to families and individuals affected by heavy rain fall, flash floods, and landslides,” DRMG Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao, who is also the DSWD spokesperson, said.
Of the amount, over Php22.6 million in aid were extended to ITCZ-affected families while over Php4.6 million worth of relief support were given to ‘Habagat’-hit residents.
The assistance provided by the DSWD field offices were in the form of family food packs (FFPs), non-food items, and financial assistance.
One FFP box contain essential food items, including rice, canned goods, coffee, and other necessities, designed to help sustain families during this difficult period.
“Our field offices have been in quick response mode as per the directive of Secretary Rex Gatchalian. He ordered the regional directors to dispatch FFPs for the affected families immediately,” the DSWD spokesperson said.
Based on the latest Disaster Response Operations Management, Information, and Communication (DROMIC) report, a total of 34,883 families or 174,173 persons in 176 barangays in Regions 6 (Western Visayas), 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula), 11 (Davao Region), 12 (Soccsksargen), and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) have been affected by the prevailing ITCZ.
Moreover, there are 54,729 families or 265,806 persons affected by the ‘Habagat’ in 175 barangays in Regions 9, 12 and BARMM.
As of press time, the DSWD maintains Php2.7 billion stockpiles and stand by funds
“Standby funds are available in other DSWD FOs which may support the relief needs of the families affected by the effects of ITCZ and southwest monsoon through inter-FO augmentation,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao said. #