By Charissa Luci-Atienza
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has provided more than P166 million worth of food packs to more than 429,000 families nationwide.
Department of Social Welfare and Development
(MANILA BULLETIN)
Based on the DSWD-Disaster Response Operations and Monitoring Information Center (DROMIC) report, as of 6 p.m. of April 17, Friday, a total of 429, 112 Family Food Packs (FFPs) have been distributed to 11 regions, amounting to P166.7 million.
Of the FFPs distributed nationwide, a total of 138,800 FFPs were given in the National Capital Region (NCR), followed by Region XI (Davao) at 72,520; Region V (Bicol) at 47,082; Region I (Ilocos) at 36,980; Region IV-A (Calabarzon) at 35,815; Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula) at 4, 23,739; Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) at 18,773; Region III (Central Luzon) at 17,548; Region VI (Western Visayas) at 12,500; Region VII(Central Visayas) at 11,315; and Region II (Cagayan Valley) at 8,977.
Based on the DROMIC report, the total cost of relief assistance increased to P6.59 billion, P166.7 million of which was given by the DSWD while the LGUs and non-government organizations (NGOs) provided P6.33 billion and P69.44 million worth of assistance, respectively.
A total of P26.67 million has been donated by other sources, making the total cost of assistance to P6.59 billion. The report said the DSWD has stockpiles worth about P822.94 million and P517.19 million standby funds. Of the P517.19 million standby funds, P476.99 million is the Central Office's available Quick Response Fund (QRF), and P40.21 million is the available funds at the Field Offices, it said.
The DROMIC reports a total of 389, 998 FFPs worth P155.17 million are available for distribution. The breakdown of the P822.94 million stockpiles is as follows: P408.97 million worth of non-food items and P258.81 million worth of food items. Each FFP contains six kilos of rice, four cans of sardines, four cans of corned beef or beef loaf, and six sachets of coffee or cereal energy drink which is enough for two days for a family with five members, the DSWD said.
"The provision of additional relief items is part of the Department’s mandate to provide Technical Assistance and Resource Augmentation (TARA) to LGUs during times of emergencies," it said. The DSWD earlier assured the LGUs that it delivers the relief aid "in a timely manner.”