ANTIQUE — The provincial government here is actively distributing family food packs to thousands of displaced residents following the impact of Typhoon “Tino,” while preemptive evacuation measures helped keep casualties to a minimum.
Gov. Paolo S. Javier said the provincial government began distributing 350 family food packs to residents in Valderrama on Tuesday afternoon, followed by 2,000 more packs to nine other severely affected municipalities.
“Today, we have three teams distributing family food packs to the municipalities,” Javier said in an interview on November 5.
The teams, composed of staff from the governor’s office, Cong. AA Legarda with staff, the Antique Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), other provincial offices, and volunteer groups, provided assistance in Anini-y, Hamtic, Tobias Fornier, Laua-an, Patnongon, Belison, San Remigio, Sibalom, and San Jose de Buenavista.
Javier added that family food packs continue to be repacked at the New Antique Capitol lobby to reach additional affected families. With 42,994 families (approximately 97,924 individuals) displaced by flooding and landslides, the provincial government has requested augmentation support from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 6.
“The DSWD has more than 17,000 family food packs prepositioned prior to Typhoon Tino”, which are now being distributed to affected towns in Western Visayas, including Antique,” Javier said.
Meanwhile, Social Welfare Officer 3 Rebecca Lotilla reported that the provincial government allocated P4 million from the Quick Response Fund and Special Trust Fund for the locally prepared food packs, which are being distributed to far-flung areas that DSWD cannot immediately reach. Donated used clothing is also available for those in need.
According to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), early or preemptive evacuations, coupled with widespread information dissemination before the typhoon’s landfall, played a critical role in minimizing casualties. Antique recorded only one fatality – a resident of Anini-y who was swept away while attempting to cross a river before the storm struck.
Despite the severity of the typhoon, no rescue operations were required during its peak, underscoring the effectiveness of timely evacuations. As of 10 a.m. on November 5, more than 41,000 families had been evacuated, with over 13,000 individuals still sheltered in evacuation centers.
Javier urged evacuees to remain in evacuation centers until conditions improve, warning that “Tino” may still bring additional rain and flooding.
The coordinated efforts of local authorities, government agencies, and volunteer groups highlight Antique’s commitment to rapid relief, safety, and preparedness in the wake of “Tino.”/PN
