DSWD Mobilizes P1.09 Billion in Aid as Over 2.1 Million Families Feel Impact of Storms
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has intensified its humanitarian response, delivering more than ₱1.09 billion worth of assistance to communities affected by the enhanced southwest monsoon and the successive impacts of tropical cyclones Luis, Maymay, and Neneng.
According to the DSWD’s 6 a.m. Disaster Response Operations Management, Information and Communication (DROMIC) report released Saturday, the agency has distributed approximately 1.66 million family food packs (FFPs), 13,864 non-food items (NFIs), 22,993 ready-to-eat food (RTEF) items, and ₱2.76 million in financial assistance to affected families and communities.
To ensure the continuous delivery of humanitarian assistance, the DSWD said it has maintained substantial relief supplies strategically prepositioned in warehouses across the country. These include 3.79 million family food packs, 275,983 non-food items, and 315,172 ready-to-eat food items ready for immediate deployment.
DSWD Disaster Response Management Group Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said the agency continues to work closely with local government units to determine the immediate needs of affected communities and ensure the rapid delivery of additional assistance.
“Patuloy ang DSWD sa pakikipag-ugnayan sa mga lokal na pamahalaan para matukoy ang mga kinakailangang tulong at agad na maipadala ang mga karagdagang relief supplies,” Dumlao said.
The government's disaster response efforts are being carried out in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to ensure uninterrupted humanitarian assistance through the Buong Bansa Handa (BBH) program.
As of the latest report, local government units have validated a total of 2,128,890 affected families across various regions.
Approximately 11,630 families, or 39,978 individuals, are currently staying in 530 open evacuation centers. Meanwhile, another 19,834 displaced families, representing 78,990 individuals, who are staying outside evacuation centers continue to receive relief and augmentation support from the government.
Dumlao emphasized that the DSWD remains on high alert and committed to sustaining its monitoring and rapid mobilization of resources until affected families have recovered and safely returned to their homes.
“Sa ilalim ng ating Buong Bansa Handa initiative, kami po sa DSWD ay ready all-year-round upang agad na makapag-abot ng kinakailangang tulong at relief augmentation support sa ating mga kababayan. Patuloy din tayong nagmomonitor at naghahanda para sa bagyo na maaaring pumasok at makaapekto sa ating bansa,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) reported that at least 29 people have been reported dead in incidents linked to the severe weather conditions, including landslides, rockslides, fallen trees, drowning, strong currents, and electrocution.
The fatalities include 15 individuals in Benguet, four each in Rizal and Batangas, and one each in Quezon, Puerto Galera, Cadiz City in Negros Occidental, and La Union, while two deaths were recorded in Caloocan.
The OCD also reported 19 injuries caused by landslides, fallen trees, strong currents, and vehicular accidents.
Beyond the human toll, the combined impact of the tropical cyclones and the enhanced southwest monsoon has also caused significant economic damage. Initial estimates place infrastructure losses at approximately ₱4.7 billion, while damage to the agriculture sector has reached around ₱1.7 billion.
With millions of families affected and weather-related threats continuing to challenge communities across the country, the DSWD and other government agencies remain on heightened alert, working with local government units to ensure that food, emergency supplies, financial assistance, and other essential support reach vulnerable and displaced Filipinos without interruption.
NPO NEWS TEAM | PNA-PR
