ILOILO — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has led the distribution of over P11.9 million worth of humanitarian assistance to nearly 60,000 families in Western Visayas reeling from the effects of the southwest monsoon (habagat) intensified by Tropical Cyclone “Crising”.
As of July 20, noon, the DSWD’s Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center (DROMIC) reported that the bulk of the assistance — more than P9.5 million — was delivered by DSWD Region 6 primarily in the form of 14,954 family food packs (FFPs) valued at P9.3 million, and 122 non-food items worth over P200,000.
A total of 216,076 individuals from Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental received aid, with Antique emerging as the most affected province, still experiencing intermittent heavy downpours.
Breakdown of assistance per province
* Aklan — P519,764 (FFPs)
* Antique — P3,334,585.05 (FFPs)
* Capiz — P39,627.68 (FFPs)
* Iloilo — P14,961.92 (FFPs)
* Negros Occidental — P5,475,446.32 (FFPs)
“The agency is committed to addressing the needs of those affected and providing additional resources as necessary during this challenging time,” DSWD Region 6 stated.
As per the DROMIC report, 42 houses were totally damaged, while 323 sustained partial damage. Over 14,000 individuals remain sheltered in evacuation centers, while more than 54,000 are temporarily staying with relatives or friends.
DSWD-6 also extended hot meals to Locally Stranded Individuals (LSIs) at Parola Wharf in Iloilo City.
Authorities continue to urge residents to stay alert, prepare emergency kits, monitor weather advisories, and follow safety protocols as rains persist in several areas, especially in Antique./PN