DSWD intensifies aid in Ompong-affected areas

STORM’S FURY Lydia Domingo and her nephew, Marwin Palacio, pick up the pieces after the powerful typhoon destroyed their house at Barangay San Lorenzo, Lallo
town, Cagayan province when it barreled through northern Luzon. —RICHARD REYES

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has intensified its relief efforts in local government units (LGUs) severely affected by typhoon “Ompong.”

“The Department’s personnel in the affected regions, as well as those in the Central Office deployed in the hardest hit areas are already providing the necessary technical assistance to the affected communities,” Social Welfare Secretary Virginia Orogo said in a statement on Monday.

The DSWD said that a total of P14,864,056 worth of assistance has been provided so far to affected families and individuals in the regions hit by the typhoon.

The agency said that it was distributing family kits to affected families in Malabon City and continuously coordinating with the 17 LGUs regarding necessary augmentation assistance needed by affected families.

Meanwhile, in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), 600 sacks of National Food Authority rice were purchased to be distributed to affected families.

In Region 2, the DSWD said, a stockpile of 5,628 family food packs and a Quick Response Fund amounting to P10 million for the provision of augmentation support to affected LGUs were on standby while 4,000 family food packs were readily available for request in the CALABARZON Region.

The agency cited earlier reports that a total of 147,540 families or 591,762 persons were affected in 2,738 barangays, 433 cities/municipalities, and 31 provinces in  National Capital Region, Regions I, II, III, Calabarzon(Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon), Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) and CAR.

Meanwhile, a total of 50,686 families or 192,842 persons are currently staying inside 1,899 evacuation centers, while some 6,510 families or 26,666 persons are staying with relatives or friends in Regions NCR, I, II, III, CALABARZON, and CAR.

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