The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has enough relief supplies to augment the resources of the local government of Surigao del Sur for the families affected by the civil unrest in the province.

This is in response to the report that food supply is running low in evacuation centers.

The DSWD, in coordination with the local government units (LGUs), continues to provide relief assistance to the 822 affected families staying inside the three evacuation centers.

DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman said that the Field Office in CARAGA has a stockpile of 30,000 family food packs at any given time for various kinds of disasters that would occur in the region.

“The LGU can send their request for augmentation assistance and the Field Office will immediately deliver the needed relief supplies,” Sec. Soliman said.

On November 9, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Response Management Office distributed 530 family food packs to the families staying in the SDS Sports Center, Tandag City and another 30 food packs to those staying at the Janipaan Health Center, San Agustin.

From September to present, the total relief assistance provided to the families amounted to P7,492,817.08, where P2,720,181.08 came from DSWD, while the rest came from the LGUs, Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), and other National Government Agencies (NGAs).

Aside from relief support, DSWD disaster teams also continue to provide psychosocial services to the evacuees. ###