The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has provided over Php27 million worth of humanitarian aid to families affected by Tropical Cyclones Nika and Ofel.

This assistance has reached Regions 1 (Ilocos Region), 2 (Cagayan Valley), 3 (Central Luzon), 5 (Bicol Region), and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

“As of today , this total amount covers the family food packs (FFPs) and non-food items (NFIs) that we used in our overlapping post-disaster response for Nika and our initial assistance to local government units (LGUs) along the track of Ofel,” Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao said on Friday (November 15).

According to Asst. Secretary Dumlao who is also the DSWD spokesperson, the agency and its Field Offices are consolidating resources to provide proactive assistance to communities affected by disasters, especially in the coastal areas of Northern Luzon that have endured multiple storms.

“Sa apat na coastal towns po ng Isabela province which are Dinapigue, Divilacan, Maconacon at Palanan, nauna na tayong nagpadala at nagpre-position ng 1,000 boxes of FFPs. However, dahil nga ilan ito sa pinaka-naapektuhan ng Ofel, nagbigay pa tayo ng inisyal na karagdagan na 68 FFPs sa Divilacan at 64 FFPs sa Palanan,” the DSWD official said.

The DRMG official pointed out that the agency’s Mobile Command Center (MCC) has benefitted areas with unreliable electricity and poor reception in the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, and CAR.

“Paikot-ikot itong MMC natin, umaga man or gabi, we are strategically deploying it to communities in dire need of electricity, and internet connection para magamit at mapakinabangan rin ng ating mga nangangailangang kababayan,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao said.

“Inaalala natin na bukod sa food needs ng mga apektadong pamilya, importante din na hindi maputol ang line of communication nila with their families as well as their access to internet and timely updates in this crucial time,” the DRMG official added.

Asst. Secretary Dumlao reported that financial aid is continuously being disbursed in response to the extensive damage caused by natural disasters.

In Sta. Marcela, Apayao province, more than 1,700 families received Php5,000 each in cash assistance through the Ayuda Para sa Kapos Ang Kita Program (AKAP).

These recipients were identified as those whose livelihoods were affected by the calamities that struck the country.

Following Secretary Rex Gatchalian’s directives, Asst. Secretary Dumlao stated that the agency is intensifying its preparations and prepositioning efforts in anticipation of Typhoon Pepito.

“Both our National Resource Operations Center (NROC) in Pasay City, and Visayas Disaster Response Center (VDRC) in Mandaue, Cebu City, patuloy yung repacking efforts natin. Gayundin ang dispatches at prepositioning sa ating mga regional warehouses, spokes, last-miles, lalung-lalo na sa Eastern Visayas and Southern Luzon, na ayon sa PAGASA ay sasalo ng malakas na ulang hatid ni Pepito starting November 16,” the DSWD official said.

Asst. Secretary Dumlao assured that the Department’s Quick Response Teams (QRTs) are on full alert and stand by to assist LGUs with their emergency disaster response for Pepito. (LSJ)

 

Tagalog Version

DSWD nagbigay ng Php27M tulong sa mga naapektuhang pamilya ng bagyong Nika, Ofel

Mahigit sa Php27 million halaga ng humanitarian aid ang naipamahagi na ng Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) sa mga naapektuhang pamilya dulot ng bagyong Nika at Ofel.

Nabahaginan ng nasabing tulong ang mga apektadong residente ng Regions 1 (Ilocos Region), 2 (Cagayan Valley), 3 (Central Luzon), 5 (Bicol Region), at Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

“As of today , this total amount covers the family food packs (FFPs) and non-food items (NFIs) that we used in our overlapping post-disaster response for Nika and our initial assistance to local government units (LGUs) along the track of Ofel,”sabi ni Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) at Spokesperson Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao.

Ayon kay Asst. Secretary Dumlao, ang ahensya kabilang ang concerned Field Offices nito ay nagbibigay ng proactive assistance sa mga komunidad na naapektuhan ng kalamidad, partikular na ang mga coastal areas ng Northern Luzon na lubhang tinamaan ng mga nagdaang bagyo.

“Sa apat na coastal towns po ng Isabela province which are Dinapigue, Divilacan, Maconacon at Palanan, nauna na tayong nagpadala at nagpre-position ng 1,000 boxes of FFPs. However, dahil nga ilan ito sa pinaka-naapektuhan ng Ofel, nagbigay pa tayo ng inisyal na karagdagan na 68 FFPs sa Divilacan at 64 FFPs sa Palanan,” sabi pa ng opisyal.

Dagdag pa ng DRMG official, malaki ang naibigay na serbisyo ng Mobile Command Center (MCC) ng ahensya sa mga lugar na nawalan ng kuryente at internet connection. Kabilang sa mga lugar na ito ang Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, at CAR.

“Paikot-ikot itong MMC natin, umaga man or gabi, we are strategically deploying it to communities in dire need of electricity, and internet connection para magamit at mapakinabangan rin ng ating mga nangangailangang kababayan,” sabi pa ni Asst. Secretary Dumlao.

Dagdag pa niya, “Inaalala natin na bukod sa food needs ng mga apektadong pamilya, importante din na hindi maputol ang line of communication nila with their families as well as their access to internet and timely updates in this crucial time.”

Sabi pa ni Asst. Secretary Dumlao, patuloy ang ahensya sa pamimigay ng tulong pinansyal sa mga lugar na lubhang napinsala ng bagyo.

Ayon sa opisyal, mahigit sa 1,700 pamilya sa lalawigan ng Sta. Marcela, Apayao ay nakatanggap ng tig Php5,000 cash assistance sa pamamagitan ng Ayuda Para sa Kapos Ang Kita Program (AKAP).

Bilang tugon na rin sa direktiba ni DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, sinabi ni Asst. Secretary Dumlao na patuloy na pinapalakas ng ahensya ang disaster response operation at food prepositioning bilang paghahanda sa paparating na bagyong Pepito.

“Both our National Resource Operations Center (NROC) in Pasay City, and Visayas Disaster Response Center (VDRC) in Mandaue, Cebu City, patuloy yung repacking efforts natin. Gayundin ang dispatches at prepositioning sa ating mga regional warehouses, spokes, last-miles, lalung-lalo na sa Eastern Visayas and Southern Luzon, na ayon sa PAGASA ay sasalo ng malakas na ulang hatid ni Pepito starting November 16,” sabi pa ni DSWD official.# (MVC)