ILOILO City – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has distributed assistance worth approximately P38.8 million to families affected by the El Niño phenomenon in Western Visayas.
Data from the DSWD Region 6 as of May 2 showed that 63,824 food packs have been provided to families across 39 cities and municipalities.
Aklan received 8,307 packs; Antique and Capiz together received 15,934 packs; Iloilo was allocated 9,416 packs; and Negros Occidental received the highest with 29,167 packs.
DSWD regional director Atty. Carmelo Nochete said the distribution of family food packs will be accelerated in the areas impacted by the El Niño phenomenon.
“We are doubling our efforts. Our ‘Angels in Red Vest’ will always do their best to help the El Niño-affected populace subsist this drought season,” said Nochete.
To ensure the continuous release of assistance, the Disaster Response Section of the DSWD-Disaster Response Management Division, under the supervision of Division Chief Erlyn Garcia, is in ongoing coordination with other concerned local government units.
This coordination focuses on the release and distribution of family food packs to El Niño-affected families in their localities.
Currently, the province of Antique, which includes 18 municipalities, has been declared under a state of calamity due to El Niño.
The province of Iloilo is also expected to be declared a state of calamity later this week, following an estimated P1.025 billion in damage to the agricultural, fishery, and poultry and livestock sectors.
In Guimaras, only the municipalities of San Lorenzo and Buenavista have declared a state of calamity, while in Negros Occidental, only the municipality of San Enrique has so far declared a state of calamity./PN
