ILOILO CITY -- So far, tropical depression “Agaton” has displaced more than 2,500 families in Western Visayas region.

Judith Barredo of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-6) made the disclosure during an early evening online meeting of the Western Visayas Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (Western Visayas RDRRMC).
Barredo, who serves as the Western Visayas RDRRMC, said the number could still rise as rescue operations are still ongoing for those who have been affected by the flood brought by continuous Agaton rains.
But the 2,500 families are from 37 barangays (villages) from Capiz, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental provinces.
Barredo said that field officers have recorded 244 families are in evacuation centers in these provinces while the remaining families may be staying with relatives.
On its part, DSWD-6 has prepared 23,053 family food packs that are ready to be distributed to affected families.
Cindy Ferrer, spokesperson of Office of Civil Defense (OCD-6), said that the Western Visayas RDRRMC is still consolidating data of Agaton’s impact since the data come from local government units (LGUs).