MORE than Php 272 million worth of humanitarian aid was provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to the families affected by the shear line that struck Eastern Visayas last November, Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs Irene B. Dumlao reported on Tuesday (December 12).
Asst. Sec. Dumlao said the aid provided to the affected families included family food packs (FFPs), non-food items, and cash through the agency’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program.
A total of 323,301 food boxes amounting to more than Php 222 million were distributed to the affected families from the provinces of Biliran, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Western Samar, and Southern Leyte.
“The DSWD Eastern Visayas is continuously coordinating with the National Resource Operations Center on the delivery of the requested additional FFPs intended for the affected families,” said Asst. Sec. Dumlao, who is also the agency’s data privacy offer and co-spokesperson.
Some 584 hygiene kits and 72 kitchen kits were also distributed to the families affected by the weather disturbance in Northern Samar and Eastern Samar provinces, Asst. Sec. Dumlao noted.
“Aside from food packs, the DSWD also provided cash assistance to allow the affected families to buy or purchase other necessities in their preference,” Asst. Dumlao pointed out.
According to the agency’s data privacy officer, some 17,331 beneficiaries from Northern Samar received financial assistance from the DSWD, with a total disbursement of Php 49,999,000.
“We are in constant communication with the affected localities so we can facilitate their augmentation requests as soon as possible,” Asst. Sec. Dumlao said.
The DSWD, through its Field Office 8 ( EasternVisayas), continues to coordinate with the local government units (LGUs) to ensure that the necessary services are extended to the affected families.
