Over P1.2 billion worth of relief goods and standby funds are available for the government’s response in areas affected by tropical depression (TD) “Maymay,” according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Of the said amount, Social Welfare Undersecretary Eduardo M. Punay disclosed the bulk or P678 million of the amount are food and non-food items, which are already prepositioned in “strategic locations” in areas hit by Maymay.
He said another P195 million are standby funds in the DSWD Central Office and field offices, while the remaining P342 million may be spend to acquire 550,000 family food packs.
“We assure [the public] DSWD has sufficient funds for its Disaster Response Operations,” Punay said in a televised interview on Thursday morning.
Citing their data of October 12, 2022, he said Maymay has already affected 927 families comprising about 3,500 individuals, who were evacuated from 23 barangays in the Cagayan Valley Region.
DSWD said it is now coordinating with the local government units (LGU) of areas in the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley and the Cordillera Administrative Region, hit by Maymay in line with the instruction of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr.
“We will ensure DSWD will promptly bring aid to our citizens, who were affected by the typhoon,” Punay said.
Aid to eruption victims
IN a related development, Punay said they also have a separate P63 million worth of standby and stockpile funds in the Bicol Region for those who may be affected by the recent activities of the Mayon and Bulusan volcanoes.
He said the amount could be still augmented by the DSWD central office.
PRC Negros humanitarian support
The Philippine Red Cross (PRC), through its PRC Negros Occidental-Bacolod City Chapter, provided humanitarian support to displaced families of Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City in Negros Occidental after government troops clashed with New People’s Army rebels on October 6, 2022.
There were 2, 741 individuals affected by the incident.
“The province of Negros Occidental can be difficult to reach due to its terrain, but that did not stop the Red Cross staff and volunteers from giving IDPs (internally displaced persons) much-needed relief,” PRC Chairman and CEO Richard J. Gordon said.
The PRC Negros Occidental – Bacolod City Chapter delivered hot meals to 228 individuals, vitamins to more than 150 families and facemasks to 765 individuals.
Health assistance was also given to affected families. With Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco
