ILOILO City – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 6, together with local government units (LGUs), has delivered humanitarian assistance totalling P25,364,637.47 to families impacted by Tropical Storm Kristine, which brought heavy rain and strong winds to Western Visayas last week.
Out of the total aid provided, P23,359,034 came from DSWD-6, which included 27,724 family food packs valued at P22,526,846.42 and 531 non-food items worth P832,188.
The family food packs, sufficient for a family of five for two days, contain six kilograms of rice, four cans each of corned beef and tuna, two cans of sardines, and five sachets each of coffee and energy drinks.
The non-food items include sleeping kits and kitchen kits among other daily necessities.
Humanitarian assistance of approximately P2 million was provided by the LGUs through family food packs to their affected residents.
DSWD-6 still has available relief resources worth P120,779,138.91, including P3,000,000 in standby funds and P117,779,138 allocated for food and non-food items.
DSWD-6 director Arwin Razo emphasized the ongoing efforts to meet the needs of the affected families and plans for resource complementation with other agencies to assist those whose homes were damaged.
Data from DSWD-6 indicates that since October 23, when Panay Island and the northern portion of Negros Occidental were placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1, approximately 125,496 families or 485,015 individuals from 97 cities and municipalities have been affected by Tropical Storm Kristine.
As of Monday, October 28, only 294 families or 1,088 individuals remain inside evacuation centers, while 851 families or 3,214 individuals are outside the evacuation centers. Most of the affected families have returned to their homes.
Regarding property damage, 527 houses have been reported as totally destroyed, and 17,915 as partially damaged./PN
