DSWD: More than 13,000 in regions hit by ‘Usman’ still in evacuation centers

MANILA, Philippines —Some 3,488 families or 13,469 persons from regions affected by Tropical Depression “Usman” (which has weakened into a low pressure area) are still staying in evacuation centers, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said Monday.

According to the latest report from DSWD Disaster Response and Management Bureau (DRMB), affected residents from regions of Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan), Bicol, and Eastern Visayas are currently staying in 112 evacuation centers.

Meanwhile, the DSWD report added that 189 families or 939 individuals have decided to stay with relatives and friends but are still being served by the agency.

So far, about P395,144 worth of aid has been provided by the DSWD to local government units.

Emergency telecommunication equipment is also on standby if needed, the DSWD said.

Meanwhile, the repacking of family food packs is also ongoing in concerned field offices and DSWD personnel continue to render round-the-clock duty to monitor the situation in affected areas.

As of Monday, the death toll due to massive landslides and floods brought by heavy rain brought by the low pressure area has reached 68 with the number of fatalities expected to climb even higher according to civil defense officials.

Fifty-seven people died in Bicol region, while 11 were killed in the central island of Samar, mostly due to landslides and drownings. At least 17 people are still missing.  /muf

READ: Death toll from ‘Usman’ surges to 68