95,910 Bising, ‘habagat’ victims get aid from DSWD

MANILA, Philippines — A total of 95,910 individuals, or 30,683 families, in 61 barangays in the Ilocos, Cordillera, and Central Luzon regions have been affected by Typhoon Bising (international name: Danas) and the habagat, or southwest monsoon, according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

But as of Tuesday, only nine individuals, or two families, remain in evacuation centers, while 3,026 others received assistance outside of the shelters.

The DSWD said that since last week, it has provided P719,187 worth of relief assistance, including 1,068 family food packs and emergency kits that were turned over to local government units in the affected areas.

“In Region 3, where various areas were submerged in floodwaters, the DSWD in Central Luzon facilitated the distribution of 225 food packs to Bising-hit families in Sta. Rosa, Nueva Ecija,” DSWD Spokesperson and Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said.

She added that response teams began distributing aid in the Ilocos Region on July 5, covering the towns of Narvacan, Sta. Maria and Vigan City in Ilocos Sur.

In Benguet, the DSWD Cordillera Region office conducted a site assessment in Itogon, where landslides due to heavy rains were reported.

The DSWD assured the public that it maintains sufficient stockpiles, with 493,457 food packs and P9 million worth of standby funds available for distribution to affected areas.

Another weather disturbance

On Monday, Bising weakened from a typhoon to a severe tropical storm as it left the Philippine area of responsibility.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), however, said in its 5 p.m. forecast on Tuesday that it was monitoring a low-pressure area (LPA) some 1,865 kilometers east northeast of extreme northern Luzon. But it added that there was a low chance of the LPA developing into a tropical cyclone.

Pagasa said that on Wednesday, the habagat would bring cloudy weather and scattered rains in the western section of Luzon, including Metro Manila. It will also cause weak to moderate rains to sometimes strong rains in Western Visayas, the Negros Island Region, the Zamboanga Peninsula, and the Bangsamoro and Soccsksargen regions. —with a report from Faith Argosino