DSWD delivers aid to Sendong victims

The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Central Visayas (DSWD-7) has mobilized all its staff to pack more than 11,000 noche buena packages for victims of typhoon Sendong in the 10  towns of Negros Oriental.

The package consists of a pail or basin  of assorted canned  goods,  spaghetti noodles, spaghetti sauce, fruit cocktail , cheese, biscuits and candies for the children.

DSWD statistics showed 55,060 victims had already been served from the towns of Amlan, Bacong, Mabinay, Pamplona, San Jose, Siaton, Sibulan, Valencia and the cities of Dumaguete and Tanjay.

Data from the Relief Operations Center in Dumaguete City  showed  that total  cash assistance amounted to P9,801,510.50, of which P7,686,386 came from the DSWD, P1,589,000 from non-government and other government organizations and P526,124.50 from local government units.

Five evacuation centers in Dumaguete City and the neighboring town of Sibulan accommodate a total of 365 families. Another 10,647 families are camped outside the evacuation centers.

DSWD Regional Director Ma. Evelyn Macapobre has alerted once again all its social welfare and development teams in Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor and Negros Oriental to inform all  local government units  to stock pile food commodities and relief goods and  reactivate  their  Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils as rain continues to pour.

Macapobre also appeals to families living in river banks to seek temporary shelter in higher grounds and prepare contingencies like flashlight, water, emergency medical kit, extra clothes, portable radio, plastic bags and money in case of disaster.