DSWD extends P13-M worth of aid to flood-hit Davao provinces
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), through its Field Office 11 (Davao Region), provided at least P13 million in humanitarian aid to local government units (LGUs) in the region that have been affected by heavy rains caused by the shear line—a rain-inducing weather system formed by the convergence of northeast monsoon and easterly winds.
As of Friday, Jan. 19, 21,203 family food packs have been delivered to the provinces of Davao Del Norte, Davao de Oro, and Davao Oriental, based on a report submitted by Davao Regional Director Vanessa B. Goc-ong to DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian.
In order to expedite the distribution of aid while preventing duplication, Goc-ong said the DSWD-Field Office 11 has already plotted the preferred distribution points of local chief executives.
“We will ensure that all requests from all affected LGUs will be fulfilled,” she said.
All provincial quick response teams and municipal action teams in the affected areas have been activated to ensure that assistance is delivered efficiently and quickly to the affected citizens, she added.
Currently, 3,664 families or 11,797 people are staying in 60 evacuation centers throughout Davao region.
“The Field Office also has over P69 million worth of standby and stockpile funds ready for augmentation to localities if the need arises,” Goc-ong said.
The Visayas Disaster Resource Center is expected to augment its supply of 54,880 family food packs, which are scheduled to arrive in the Davao Region on Saturday, Jan. 20.