3 million individuals affected by Paeng, says DSWD

At least three millions individuals have been affected by Severe Tropical Storm Paeng, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said Tuesday.

“Sa ngayon po kasi talagang binantayan natin ang ating mga kababayan, sa tantsa po natin ang affected individuals natin nasa three million po ito. Ito po ay lahat ng rehiyon sa ating bansa ay naapektuahan ng pananalasa ni bagyong Paeng,” DSWD Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Romel Lopez said in an interview with Super Radyo dzBB.

(Right now, we are currently monitoring our fellow Filipinos and based on our estimation, the affected individuals reached around three million in all regions of our country affected by Paeng.)

He said there are at least 76,000 displaced families staying in temporary shelters.

He added these families are in the National Capital Region (NCR), Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Regions 1, 2, 3, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Regions 7, 8, 9, and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The DSWD official said they were given help and financial assistance including those outside evacuation centers.

Lopez said at least P69 million worth of assistance were already distributed, of which P65 million came from the DSWD and P3 million from several local government units.

“Sa ngayon po 'yung ating naipapamahaging tulong ay nasa P69 million worth of assistance na po, kasama na po rito 'yung P65 million galing po sa DSWD. Iyan po ay ating mga family food packs and then mga cash assistance. And nasa higit P3 million ay galing sa mga LGUs. Meron din po tayong mga natanggap na tulong sa NGOs ito po ay nasa P13,600,” he said.

(We distributed at least P69 million worth of assistance, of which P65 million came from DSWD which were family food packs and cash assistance. And more than P3 million came from the LGUs. We also have received assistance from NGOs about P13,600.)

He said they prioritized giving help to those who lost their homes and family members due to Paeng.

Families who lost relatives due to Paeng received P10,000 assistance from the DSWD, according to Lopez.

“Usually po ang ating naipapaabot na tulong sa kanila ay nasa P10,000. Halimbawa po kasi sa mga kapatid nating Muslim, halimbawa po sa BARMM na nasawi po ay  P10,000 po kaagad outright,” he said.

(Usually the help we give to them is around P10,000. For example, for our fellow Muslims in BARMM who have relatives who died due to Paeng, they received P10,000 outright.)

Meanwhile, Lopez said the department has at least P186.4 million quick response fund and P82 million available standby fund in its regional offices.

“Sa ngayon po, mayroon tayong P186.4 million na quick response fund ito po ay sa central office pa lang ito. Nasa P82 million pa ang available na standby fund ng mga regional offices. Ang ating naka-preposition na foodpacks ay nasa 46,441,” he added.

(Currently, we have a P186.4 million quick response fund, this is just at the central office. The available standby fund of the regional offices is still at P82 million. Our prepositioned foodpacks are at around 46,441.)

The DSWD also opened its office to receive donations for Paeng victims. The department said it is accepting cash and in-kind donations.

The number of reported fatalities due to Paeng has climbed to 110, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Tuesday morning.

A total of 160 cities and municipalities were under state of calamity due to the effects of Paeng, which exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility Monday afternoon.

Meanwhile, a low pressure area, earlier known as Tropical Storm Queenie (international name: Banyan), further weakened into a remnant low and is expected to bring light to moderate with at times heavy rains over Caraga and Davao Oriental.—AOL, GMA News