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The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has released PHP24.94 million worth of assistance to families badly affected by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name Trami) in Eastern Visayas.
In a report released Friday, the DSWD 8 (Eastern Visayas) said the amount spent as of Oct. 24 covered the cost of 32,296 family food packs (FFPs) and 842 non-food items (NFIs) provided to families affected by flooding.
DSWD-8 information officer Joshua Kempis said in a phone interview that the released assistance was just the initial since assessment was ongoing two days after the storm crossed the region.
‘The agency’s monitoring is still continuing to ensure that all requests for augmentation and necessary assistance from the affected local government units are being responded,’ Kempis said.
The DSWD has PHP116.11 million relief resources for additional requests from affected local government units.
In Eastern Samar, recipient families are from the towns of Arteche, Dolores, Jipapad, Oras, a
nd San Policarpo.
In Samar province, the beneficiaries are families from Calbayog City, Gandara, Matuguinao, Daram, Hinabangan, Matuguinao, Motiong, Pinabacdao, San Jorge, San Jose de Buan, Sta. Margarita, Talalora, Zumarraga, and Catbalogan City.
FFPs were also distributed in Lope de Vega, Northern Samar; Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte; Naval, Biliran; and Dulag Calubian, Villaba, Bato, and Hilongos in Leyte province.
Each FFP, worth PHP500, contains 6 kg. of rice, four cans of corned beef, two cans of tuna flakes, two cans of sardines, five sachets of coffee, and five sachets of energy drink.
The NFIs include sleeping kits, hygiene kits, mosquito nets, laminated sacks, plastic mats, modular tents, and kitchen utensils.
Under Republic Act 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, the local governments are the first responders, and the DSWD must augment the response efforts after disasters.
The DSWD has been coordinating with other Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Man
agement Council members to fast-track the aid distribution.
Kristine affected 528,103 people in 717 villages when it crossed Eastern Visayas this week. The badly hit areas are in three Samar provinces
Source: Philippines News agency
