Residents retrieve recyclable materials from their shanties being destroyed by strong winds brought by typhoon Glenda along Cavitex, Cavite city.
EDWIN BACASMAS

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Social Welfare and Development lauded local government units on Friday for being better prepared in dealing with the threats posed by Typhoon “Glenda” (international name: Rammasun), noting there were no casualties at all in some provinces on the howler’s path.

Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman in particular commended the local governments in the Bicol region, which implemented preemptive evacuation prior to the onslaught of the typhoon.

The provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte were cited for having no casualties in the aftermath of Glenda.

“The preemptive evacuation is the key to preventing loss of lives, and 95 percent of the affected LGUs were able to do this,” Soliman said in a statement.

In Region 5 (Bicol) and the National Capital Region (Metro Manila) for example, 77,000 families sought safety in the different evacuation centers prior to Glenda’s landfall.

Meanwhile, 96,740 families or 512,007 people were reported to be still in 1,158 evacuation centers in seven regions affected by Typhoon Glenda.

Soliman said that while some families had returned to their homes, “we expect some families to remain in the evacuation centers, especially those whose houses were heavily damaged.”

The evacuation centers still open are in Regions 1 (Ilocos), 3 (Central Luzon), 4A (Calabarzon), 4B (Mimaropa), 5 (Bicol), 8 (Eastern Visayas) and Metro Manila.

The DSWD said 7,044 houses were destroyed and 19,869 damaged, mostly in coastal villages.

In Region 8, the field office there provided non-food items such as tarpaulin and blankets to affected towns in Northern Samar and Western Samar.

In Tacloban City, five evacuation centers are now closed as the 997 families had gone back to their homes.

In Region 4B, the local government units have organized community kitchens and distributed food packs and other items to affected families.

The DSWD has provided 29,880 food packs to augment the relief resources of LGUs affected by Glenda.

This is aside from the 135,508 food packs in Metro Manila, Regions 3, 4A, 4B, 5, 7 (Central Visayas) and 8 and at the National Resource Operations Center in Pasay City.

The agency has also prepared 1,924,405 pieces of assorted food items such as, noodles, bottled water, biscuits, sugar, coffee and canned goods in packs, pieces, and boxes, and 541,185 non-food items, like  clothes, blankets, sleeping and plastic mats, water jugs, raincoats, tarpaulins, hygiene kits, and folding beds.

Soliman said they were not yet calling for volunteers since the relief goods have already been repacked.

“Those who would want to donate can just forge partnership with the LGUs since they are the first responders,” she added.

RELATED STORY

Albay model: Zero casualty

Typhoon ‘Glenda’ leaves 20 dead