MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has assured the public, especially those severely affected by Typhoon Ulysses, that relief operations are still ongoing.
DSWD said in a statement on Friday that field offices (FO) continue to assist local government units (LGUs) in areas hard hit by Ulysses, like Marikina, Rizal, Central Luzon, and Cagayan Valley.
According to the department, it has already handed down P22 million worth of family food packs (FFPs) and non-food items (NFIs) to the DSWD FO II and cash assistance to residents in devastated towns.
“In Cagayan Province, P22 million worth of food and non-food items were delivered by DSWD FO II to affected areas in the region. The FO also started on November 18 the distribution of burial assistance amounting to P10,000 each to bereaved families in Alcala, Gonzaga, Gattaran, and Tuguegarao City in Cagayan, as well as from Maddela and Nagtipunan, Quirino,” DSWD said.
“In addition, the FO also sent 1,000 FFPs each to Alcala and Enrile, Cagayan.
In CALABARZON, the DSWD FO here has already extended P13.6 million worth of augmentation assistance to the provinces of Rizal, Laguna, and Quezon,” it added.
Tweets on DSWD’s social media pages show Secretary Rolando Bautista distributing relief goods and cash grants for residents of San Mateo and Rodriguez in Rizal and in Sta. Cruz, Laguna.
TINGNAN: Pinangunahan ni DSWD Sec. Rolando Bautista kaninang umaga, ang pamamahagi ng financial assistance at family food packs sa 500 pamilya na naapektuhan ng bagyong #UlyssesPH sa Sta. Cruz, Laguna. #DSWDMayMalasakit pic.twitter.com/kwntTFTbL1
— @dswdserves (@dswdserves) November 20, 2020
TINGNAN: Nagsagawa ng assessment ang @dswdservesfo4a sa higit 800 apektadong pamilya ng bagyong #UlyssesPH sa Brgy. Rosario sa bayan ng Rodriguez, Rizal. #DSWDMayMalasakit pic.twitter.com/urLDvTd9Ii
— @dswdserves (@dswdserves) November 20, 2020
For the Bicol Region — which has endured the effects of successive storms like Typhoon Quinta, Super Typhoon Rolly, and Ulysses — P18.7 million worth of FFPs and other NFIs have been provided, especially in towns of Albay, Camarines Sur, and Camarines Norte.
“Meanwhile, in Bicol Region, DSWD FO V has provided 27,266 FFPs to affected areas in Albay, Camarines Sur, and Camarines Norte amounting to P13.8 million. In addition, non-food items comprising of 13,028 pieces of malong, 300 sleeping kits, and 1,738 laminated sacks were also distributed to affected families and individuals,” the department noted.
“In the National Capital Region, DSWD FO NCR has extended 13,430 FFPs and 1,200 sleeping kits to affected LGUs amounting to more than P7.7 million,” it added.
After the onslaught of Ulysses, many people were worried whether DSWD would still have funds to use, especially since it has attended to other people affected by the previous storms.
Aside from the storms, DSWD also has its hands full in responding to people’s needs due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
But last November 12, DSWD assured that they still have P800 million worth of standby funds, which is aside from the funds that the department obtained from the Department of Budget and Management, under the second tranche of the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act, or Bayanihan 2.m. [ac]