Over 60,000 family food packs released to Central Luzon amid Habagat — DSWD

More than 60,000 family food packs have been released to residents affected by heavy rains brought by the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat, in Central Luzon, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said Sunday.

The DSWD has released more than 2.3 million family food packs from its warehouses since Tropical Cyclones Luis, Maymay, and Neneng, as well as the continuing monsoon rains, affected several parts of the country.

“In fact, over 2.3 million family food packs have been released by the DSWD from our warehouses. Yesterday, after seeing the situation in Central Luzon, we released an additional 63,000 family food packs to the region, including Pampanga,” DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao said in an interview with Super Radyo dzBB.

Central Luzon was among the regions affected by heavy monsoon rains, with flooding reported in Pampanga, Bataan, Bulacan, and Tarlac on Saturday.

Aside from family food packs, the DSWD also deployed mobile kitchens to provide hot meals to internally displaced persons staying in evacuation centers in Lubao and Porac, Pampanga.

"Likewise, we deployed our mobile kitchen and provided hot meals to internally displaced persons, particularly families staying in evacuation centers in Lubao and Porac,” Dumlao said.

The agency also provided initial financial assistance to residents affected by the rains in Zambales, she added.

Meanwhile, monsoon rains are expected to continue over Luzon on Sunday, according to the state weather bureau, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

In its 4 a.m. public weather forecast, PAGASA said monsoon rains are expected over Ilocos Sur, Pangasinan, La Union, Benguet, Bataan, Zambales, Tarlac, and Pampanga.— MCG, GMA News