As part of its augmentation assistance to local government units (LGUs) that were flooded yesterday due to heavy rains in Region III, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will be sending 40,000 food packs to the region.

Of this, 10,000 will be delivered directly to the Provincial Government of Nueva Ecija, 10,000 to Aurora, another 10,000 for the regional office for the provinces of Pampanga and Bulacan and another 10,000 food packs as standby supplies for additional requirements of any municipalities in Nueva Ecija which may need additional food assistance.

Likewise, P10 million standby fund had been sub-allotted for the region today which can be used to purchase locally emergency relief supplies.

DSWD disaster teams in the region are now closely monitoring the flooding situations in the different municipalities and had been coordinating with the local disaster councils in Nueva Ecija which was hardest hit by flashflood to determine additional needs of the affected families.

Disaster ops for ‘Nona’

Meanwhile, disaster operations continue for families affected by Typhoon Nona.

In a meeting at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) this afternoon, DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman said that a total of P43.1 million worth of relief assistance has been given to Regions IV-A and B, V, and VIII from the combined resources of DSWD which extended P42.8 million and concerned LGUs which provided P625,666.

Aside from the food supplies, Sec. Soliman reported that the 250 rolls of tarpaulins that the Department sent via C-130 arrived today in Catarman. The tarpaulins will be distributed to families with partially damaged houses.

Likewise, a total of 270,240 GI sheets, 16,550 kgs of umbrella nails, and 7,500 kgs of common nails were allocated for the provincial government of Northern Samar from the DSWD-Field Office VIII, which can be used to repair partially and totally damaged houses.

To date, a total of 110, 652 houses were damaged of which 13,819 and 96,838 were totally and partially damaged respectively. Of this, 88, 833 houses were located in Region VIII.

Preps for ‘Onyok’

Sec. Soliman added that DSWD disaster teams in the Mindanao Region have been alerted about Tropical Storm Onyok.

A total of ₱675,747,444.22 standby funds, 199,295 family food packs and ₱115,101,657.30 worth of food and non-food items are available at the field offices that will be affected by ‘Onyok’.

“Our DSWD-Field Offices maintain 30,000 food packs in their warehouses at any given time, so there are enough relief supplies for distribution,” Sec. Soliman continued.

She urged residents in areas along the path of ‘Onyok’ to continue to be vigilant and to heed calls or announcements for immediate evacuation from their local authorities to ensure zero casualty. ###