88,124 quake-affected families in Surigao del Sur receive food packs
BUTUAN CITY – The government has released 88,124 family food packs (FFPs) to earthquake-affected families in Surigao del Sur.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Caraga based here said they are still attending to the needs of families who are still in evacuation centers as aftershocks are still being felt in the province.

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian (right) and Gov. Alexander T. Pimentel discuss the turnover of assistance to families affected by the earthquake in Surigao del Sur. (Photo courtesy of DSWD 13-PIO chief Marko Davey Reyes via Mike U. Crismundo)
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Thursday, December 14, visited the province to personally look into the condition of affected residents and supervised the distribution of FFPs.
Gatchalian met provincial and municipal officials led by Gov. Alexander Pimentel to know the needs of families affected by the magnitude-7.4 earthquake on December 2.
The DSWD-13 monitoring and action center said 13,400 FFPs were sent to Bislig City, 13,050 to Hinatuan, 10,000 to Tandag City, 8,939 to Tagbina, 8,135 to Tago, 7,885 to Carrascal, 4,737 to Madrid, 4,500 in Cortes, 4,400 in Lingig, 3,172 in San Agustin, 2,887 in Barobo, 2,562 in Bayabas, 2,223 in San Miguel, 1,162 in Cagwait, and 1,000 in Lianga.
DSWD-13 Regional Information Office chief Marko Davey Reyes said they are continuously and actively coordinating with affected areas to provide aid to as many affected families, monitor distribution progress, and provide updates and reports to different stakeholders on the actual situation in the region.
“Our action and humanitarian services are still ongoing without let up, per instruction to our Secretary Gatchalian,” Reyes said.