Over P9.3-M aid released to families hit by ‘habagat’ in WV

More than P9.33 million worth of assistance has been released to families affected by the southwest monsoon and enhanced by Tropical Cyclone “Ferdie” in Western Visayas, according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

DSWD, in its Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center (DROMIC) report No. 7 furnished on Monday, Sept. 16, said it released 10,024 family food packs worth more than P8.5 million and 356 non-food items costing P514,744 augmenting the P204,150 aid from local government units for around 19.36 percent of the affected population.

“A total of 517,781 families or 175,908 persons are affected in 483 barangays in Western Visayas,” the DSWD report said.

Further, 240 houses were damaged, 30 were destroyed in the region.

The report said 9,735 families or 30,739 persons were displaced. Of the displaced, 7,079 families are taking shelter in 346 evacuation centers in the region, while 2,656 families are with their families.

Currently, DSWD has P141.44 million in total standby funds and stockpile.

It has 95,645 standby family food packs costing over P77.41 million, other food and non-food items worth P61.02 million, and P3 million standby funds.Perla Lena/PNA