DSWD: Over ₱27-M humanitarian assistance provided to Basyang-hit families

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Saturday said it has provided more than P27 million worth of humanitarian assistance to families affected by the tropical cyclone Basyang.

At a news forum in Quezon City, DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said the humanitarian aid provided by the agency was in the form of family food packs, ready-to-eat food boxes, and non-food items such as hygiene kits and modular tents distributed to those who are currently in evacuation centers.

Basyang, then a tropical storm, made landfall over Bayabas, Surigao del Sur on Thursday evening. 

It brought heavy rains as it made its way over Agusan del Norte, Bohol Sea, and Bohol where it made another landfall as a tropical depression. 

On Friday night, Basyang was over Negros Oriental as it continued to weaken. 

At 2 a.m. Saturday, Basyang has weakened into a low pressure area, PAGASA said. 

At 4 a.m., the LPA was located 105 km southeast of Cuyo, Palawan, moving westward at 25 km/h.

At 8 a.m., the LPA has dissipated, PAGASA said. 

At least eight individuals were reported to have died due to the effects of tropical cyclone Basyang, according to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD). 

Dumlao said DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian will go to Iligan City to determine the additional assistance needed by those affected by the weather disturbance.

“Nagpadala ng request ang Iligan City for augmentation support —2,300 family food packs and ready-to-eat food boxes, modular tents, and hygiene kits at ito naman ay naihatid na natin but we wanted to make sure,” she said.

(Iligan City sent a request for augmentation support —2,300 family food packs and ready-to-eat food boxes, modular tents, and hygiene kits and we have already delivered them, but we wanted to make sure.)

“Aside from Iligan City, nakapag hatid na rin ng tulong sa Misamis Occidental, mis oriental, agusan del norte, surigao del norte, surigao del sur, at dinagat islands,” she added.

(Aside from Iligan City, aid has also been delivered to Misamis Occidental, Mis Oriental, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, and Dinagat islands.)

The DSWD official said the agency has already prepositioned 3.5 million family food packs in various warehouses nationwide prior to the onslaught of Basyang. —VAL, GMA Integrated News