BUTUAN CITY – The Disaster Response, Operation, Monitoring and Information Center of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-13 (Caraga) has been mobilized to help local government units (LGUs) assist 44,392 families or 153,118 individuals affected by tropical depression “Kabayan.”
In her progress report to DSWD-Disaster Response Management Bureau Director Michael Cristopher R. Mathay on Tuesday, December 19, DSWD-Caraga Regional Director Mari-Flor A. Dollaga-Libang said immediate response team, SWAD team leaders, and provincial QRTs are constantly monitoring and coordinating with LGUs on their disaster response operations.
As of posting time, 26,818 families or 91,572 individuals are staying in 549 evacuation centers while 10,195 families or 33,884 individuals sought refuge in houses of friends and relatives.
“Affected families are already being attended to by different LGUs in the region, particularly in Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Sur,” DSWD-13 Regional Information Office (RIO) chief Marko Davey Reyes said.
DSWD-13 has P58,870,064.76 worth of stockpile and standby funds, ready for mobilization when LGUs ask for assistance.
Meanwhile, reports from Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (DRRMCs) said that 337 houses were damaged by the storm, 15 totally and 322 partially.
No fatalities or injuries were reported as of posting time.
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-13 Regional Director Engr. Pol M. delos Santos said that all roads and bridges in the Caraga are passable.
“I am still directing all our district engineers (DEs) and project engineers (PE) to go on the ground and personally inspect all infrastructures especially those ongoing construction under their respective area of jurisdictions,” he said.