MANILA – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is continuously providing timely aid to communities in Central Luzon and Mindanao heavily affected by torrential rains brought by the southwest monsoon or “habagat.” To date, the DSWD has extended more than PHP2.12 million worth of family food packs (FFPs) and non-food items (NFIs) such as family kits, blanket, and mats to habagat-hit families and individuals. The relief assistance immediately reached affected residents, with the agency working with local government units (LGUs) to expedite relief distribution. As of press time, a total of 4,884 families or 16,891 individuals from 43 barangays in Central Luzon, Zamboanga Peninsula, Davao Region, and Soccsksargen are affected by the weather disturbances, with 1,180 families or 4,189 persons currently taking temporary shelter in 16 evacuation centers. The DSWD has prepositioned 694,526 FFPs in the disaster-hit regions and has over three million FFPs nationwide, along with more than PHP209 million in stand-by funds ready to be tapped for ongoing disaster response operations.
