DSWD provides aid to storm victims in Albay, CamSur

By Rhaydz B. Barcia

THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) provided P7.1 million in aid to 21,874 families, totalling 83,803 individuals, affected by Tropical Storm Enteng in the Bicol Region.

Norman Laurio, DSWD Bicol Regional Director, stated that the department has provided P7,189,459.56 in humanitarian aid to affected communities and stranded passengers at various regional ports.

He noted that over 21,000 families, or approximately 83,000 individuals, have been impacted by the storm across the region’s six provinces. Of these, 1,929 families are displaced and currently residing in 129 evacuation centers, while 517 families have sought shelter with relatives or are displaced outside the evacuation centers.

The assistance includes distributing Family Food Packs (FFPs) to affected families in municipalities throughout Albay and Camarines Sur.

Additionally, prepositioned FFPs at the ports are being used to prepare hot meals for stranded passengers.

Currently, the DSWD regional office has over P210 million in stockpiled relief supplies and standby funds ready for deployment.

The agency continues to coordinate with local governments to ensure a swift response to those in need, Laurio added.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Bicol has allocated P226 million in stockpiled relief supplies and standby funds for disaster operations throughout the region.

Laurio stated that the DSWD has P3 million in standby funds and P223,651,996 worth of food and non-food items.

“We have 131,243 family food packs, 78,387 non-food packs, totalling P226 million in stockpiled relief supplies and standby funds, prepared for disaster operations across the region,” he said.

The non-food items include 15,081 family kits, 5,367 sleeping kits, 5,073 hygiene kits, 10,066 kitchen kits, and 15,081 other non-food items.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Bicol reported that a total of 22,220 families, or 85,856 individuals, have been affected by the weather disturbance.

At least 2,073 families, or 9,238 individuals, are still in evacuation centers. Of these, 1,695 families, or 7,613 individuals, are inside evacuation centers, while 378 families, or 1,625 individuals, are outside evacuation centers.

A total of 194 related incidents have been reported by various local disaster risk reduction and management offices (LDRRMOs) in Bicol.

The OCD Bicol also reported 187 flooding incidents: 102 areas remain flooded, 3 are receding, and 82 have subsided. Additionally, there have been 7 rain-induced landslides.

According to OCD Bicol, six houses were partially damaged by the weather disturbance: two in Mobo, Masbate, and four in Daet, Camarines Norte. These houses were damaged by fallen trees.

The local government unit of Mobo, Masbate, reported ₱200,000.00 worth of damage to local infrastructure.

The Department of Public Works and Highways reported nine national roads and bridges affected. Three of these in Camarines Norte are not passable to any vehicles, two are not passable to light vehicles, and four are only passable by one lane.

Additionally, 35 local roads and bridges are affected, with 29 not passable to any vehicles and 6 not passable to light vehicles.