The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) assured the public Monday, Dec. 20, that the delivery of humanitarian assistance and the repacking of food packs continue, as typhoon Odette has affected more than 1.8 million individuals or more than 452,000 families.
The assurance was made by DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao during the Laging Handa briefing on Monday.
“Patuloy ang pamamahagi ng family food packs dun sa naapektuhang LGUs and at the same time, ongoing din po ang repacking ng karagdagang mga food packs sa iba’t ibang Field Offices kabilang na po dito sa ating National Resource Operations Center so patuloy lamang po ang pagpapahatid natin at pagrerepack ng mga family food packs para masustain natin ang pamamahagi ng tulong (The distribution of family food packs to the affected LGUs continues and at the same time the repacking of additional food packs is ongoing at various Field Offices, including here at our National Resource Operation Center, so the delivery and repacking family food packs continue so we can sustain the distribution of aid),” Dumlao said.
She said as of 6 a.m., Dec. 20, the DSWD has provided more than P7.3 million worth of family food packs (FFPs) to the areas hit by Odette.
Citing its December 20 report, the DSWD said it initially provided PP8.4 million worth of humanitarian assistance to affected LGUs in Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan), Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Davao, and Caraga.
It noted that as first responders, concerned cities and municipalities extended aid worth more than P6 million to families affected by Odette.
“Over 109,000 families or around 438,000 individuals are currently staying in 2,481 evacuation centers in the affected regions,” the DSWD said.
READ MORE: https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/20/evacuees-in-odette-hit-regions-increase-to-over-438k-dswd-says/
On Dec. 18, DSWD Secretary Rolando Joselito Bautista and Senator Bong Go joined President Duterte during his visit to Caraga.
For Caraga, the DSWD allocated an additional 35,000 FFPs.
The DSWD said some 1,212 hygiene kits, 1,000 food packs, 300 rolls of laminated sacks, and other non-food items such as family kits, sleeping kits, and collapsible water containers were in transit via the presidential vessel, “Ang Pangulo”, bound for Siargao.
The DSWD-Caraga had initially delivered 5,000 FFPs both for the Province of Dinagat Islands and Siargao via Philippine Navy and Montenegro Shipping.
“The Department continues to closely coordinate with LGUs to assess how the affected population can be better assisted.”
“All concerned DSWD Field Offices are working with partner-agencies such as the Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine National Police, and Philippine Navy for prompt delivery of relief items to disaster areas,” it added.