After being hit by the strongest typhoon this year, rehabilitation for the families struck by Typhoon ‘Ferdie’ in Batanes will finally start this October following the intense planning and assessment made by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Provincial Government of Batanes, and other member agencies of the National Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Council (NDRRMC).

As of  October 6, the DSWD has already downloaded funds to DSWD-FO II for the implementation of the early recovery and rehabilitation efforts to assist the affected families.

The rehabilitation efforts include the already ongoing Cash-for-Work  for 4,549 individuals amounting to P18,331,875, Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) for 2,241 families with damaged houses amounting to P30,550,000, and a Project Management and Administrative Support Fund of P2,241,386. Overall, the rehabilitation efforts amount to P51,123,261.

DSWD Secretary Judy Taguiwalo said that the immediate rehabilitation of Batanes is vital to ensure that the affected families can regain their normal lives and functioning.

She also lauded the people of Batanes for their resiliency and cited the strong coordination of national and local agencies involved in disaster response for their prompt delivery of genuine services to the typhoon victims.

It can be recalled that at 12:15 am on September 14, Typhoon ‘Ferdie’ made landfall in Itbayat, Batanes. Carrying winds of up to 220 kph, it was the strongest to have ever hit the country this year. The people of Batanes, while accustomed to being hit by storms and have adapted quite effectively, were heavily affected.

The DSWD then, responded with a relief mission whereby relief goods were airlifted to Basco, Batanes via C130 to be distributed to affected families. Relief goods that were initially airlifted and distributed included 600 Family Food Packs (FFPs), 20,000 Ready-to-Eat Food (RTEF) Brown Rice Bars, Bottled Water, Malongs, and two Generator sets as communication was also down in the province.

As relief missions continued , the Department has now augmented to the Provincial Local Government Unit (PLGU) a total of 1,000 FFPs, 5,000 pieces of Malong, 29,240 pieces of RTEF Brown Rice Bars, 4 sets of Generators, 318 boxes of Canned Goods, 5,600 pieces of Candles, 10 rolls of Ropes, and 5,000 330ml bottled water donated by Maynilad Water Services, Inc.—all amounting to P2,984,592. All in all, the total assistance provided to Batanes has amounted to P3,679,792.

Furthermore, help in the form of Psychosocial Support Processing (PSSP) was also provided so as to relieve those who underwent stress during the onslaught of the Typhoon.

While the displaced families have already gone back to their respective homes, further assistance has yet to reach them as the Department is still to provide intervention through shelter assistance and Cash-for-Work (CFW). ###