Cordillera Administrative Region – As of 13 August 2019, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) here has provided assistance amounting to PhP 138,220.76 worth of assistance to families due to the disturbances affecting the region.
The DSWD here is currently monitoring 89 families composed of 266 individuals affected by the enhanced monsoon rains and tornado that occurred in Abra province.
Of the number 14 families with 59 individuals are from Bucloc and San Isidro in Abra and 75 families with 207 individuals are from Itogon and Mankayan in Benguet.
“We are continuously working with our partner local governments in monitoring the affected communities. Our personnel are on duty to provide interventions if necessary,” OIC- Regional Director Leo L. Quintilla said.
Meanwhile, the DSWD Field Office Cordillera Administrative Region (FOCAR) and Regional Resource Operations Section (RROS) and Satellite Warehouses have stockpiles and standby funds amounting to PhP 40,679,691.20. The said amount includes Family Food Packs (FFPs) amounting to ₱5,694,856.60, Food and Non-food Items (FNIs) amounting to ₱26,760,287.65 and other Food Items amounting to ₱5,532,741.00 that are available for the region’s emergency needs. Additional standby funds amounting to a total of PhP 2,691,805.95 is also available.
Regional Resource Operations Section maintains a total of 15,262 family food packs (FFPs) readily available for distribution. Of which, 76 FFPs are prepositioned in Social Welfare and Development Office (SWAD) -Abra, 150 in SWAD-Ifugao, 500 in 54th Infantry Division, Paracelis, 600 FFPs in 1502nd Maneuver Company in Tadian, Mountain Province, 700 FFPs in 50th Infantry Brigade in Pinukpuk, Kalinga and 700 FFPs in 503rd Brigade, Philippine Army, Tabuk City, Kalinga.
Aside from the family food packs, the DSWD has available 1,526 family kits, 982 hygiene kits, and 3,655 sleeping kits that can be distributed if necessary.
The DSWD is also ready to provide technical assistance on camp coordination and camp management to the local social welfare and development offices with identified evacuation centers.
By Nerizza Faye G. Villanueva
Photo by Armando M. Bolislis