DSWD: P5.4M in relief aid given to families affected by Ramil

The Department of Social Welfare and Development has extended P5.4 million worth of humanitarian assistance so far to families and individuals affected by Tropical Storm Ramil, which exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Monday.

In a statement, DSWD Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Irene Dumlao said the biggest amount of assistance was distributed to affected families and individuals in Western Visayas with over P3 million worth of food and non-food items.

Families and individuals in Central Luzon received P1.1 million in food and non-food items, followed by over P1 million worth of humanitarian assistance for affected families in Bicol Region.

Dumlao said the DSWD’s Field Offices in areas affected by Ramil distributed the humanitarian assistance to the affected families.

“Patuloy ang pamamahagi ng DSWD sa mga naapektuhan ng Bagyong Ramil lalo na sa Western Visayas kung saan malaki ang naging pinsala. Kasama sa ibinahaging tulong ng ahensya ay ang mga boxes of family food packs (FFPs) sa mga naapektuhang pamilya at mga ready-to-eat food (RTEF) boxes para sa mga locally stranded individuals (LSIs) sa mga pantalan,” she said.

(The DSWD continues to assist those affected by Tropical Storm Ramil, especially in the Western Visayas where damage was bad. Our agency distributes family food packs to affected families and ready-to-eat food boxes to locally stranded individuals at ports.)

“Bukod sa pamamahagi ng tulong, nakikipag-ugnayan din ang DSWD sa mga concerned local government units (LGUs) para masigurong nasa maayos na kalagayan ang mga internally displaced persons (IDPs) na nasa mga evacuation centers at pati na rin ang mga pamilyang nanunuluyan pansamantala sa kanilang mga kaibigan o kamag-anak,” Dumlao added.

(Aside from distributing assistance, the DSWD is also coordinating with concerned local government units to ensure that internally displaced persons in evacuation centers are in good condition, as well as those who are staying with friends or relatives for now.)

According to data from the DSWD, 3,778 families or 12,550 persons are temporarily sheltered in 237 evacuation centers in Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, Bicol Region, and Western Visayas.

Meanwhile, some 2,719 families or 9,962 individuals are temporarily staying with their relatives or friends.

“Sa ating mga kababayan, kahit sabay-sabay po ang mga disaster response operations ng DSWD, makakasiguro po kayo na sustained ang pagtulong ng DSWD sa mga naapektuhan ng Bagyong Ramil,” Dumlao added.

(To our countrymen, even if the DSWD is conducting simultaneous disaster response operations, you can be assured that the DSWD’s assistance to those affected by Tropical Storm Ramil will be sustained.) — JMA, GMA Integrated News