DSWD: P7.8 million in relief aid given to Wilma-affected families, passengers

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has extended P7.846 million worth of humanitarian aid to families affected by Tropical Depression Wilma.

As of Tuesday, December 9, 4,157 families remain in evacuation centers due to the effects of Wilma, which eventually weakened into a low pressure area (LPA) and dissipated.

Most of the displaced families are in Romblon, Albay, Camarines Norte, Masbate, and several areas across Western, Central, and Eastern Visayas.

The DSWD’s Field Offices (FO) distributed family food packs (FFPs), ready-to-eat food (RTEFs) boxes, non-food items (NFIs), and other emergency relief services to displaced families.

DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) said they are continuously coordinating with the affected local government units (LGUs) to assess the needs of the affected families and individuals.

In a statement, she assured that the DSWD is ready to respond to any requests for augmentation support from the affected LGUs and that supplies of relief aid are sufficient.

“Ang DSWD po ay handang tumugon sa mga pangangailangan ng mga naapektuhan ni Wilma at ng mga nakaraang kalamidad. May sapat po tayong supplies. May bagyo, may kalamidad o wala, patuloy po ang ating mga production hub sa pag produce ng family food packs kasi alam naman natin na ang ating bansa ay nasa Pacific Ring of Fire at very prone sa mga hazards kaya naman tayo ay naghahanda sa mga kalamidad,” Dumlao said.

(The DSWD is ready to address the needs of those affected by Wilma and other past calamities. We have sufficient supplies. Whether there’s a typhoon or calamity or none, our production hub continues to produce family food packs because we know that our country sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire and is very prone to hazards, and this is why we are always preparing for calamities.)

The DSWD also provided assistance to families and individuals who were stranded in various ports due to the former tropical depression.

Around 1,900 stranded passengers in Nasipit Port in Agusan Del Norte, Matnog Port in Albay, and Castilla, Pilar and Bulan ports in Sorsogon received RTEF boxes from the DSWD. — JMA, GMA Integrated News