By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.
QUEZON CITY — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has extended more than Php13-million worth of humanitarian aid to local government units (LGUs) in Davao Region that are now experiencing inclement weather from the effects of a shear line.
In her report to DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Davao Regional Director Atty. Vanessa B. Goc-Ong said that as of Friday (Jan. 19), DSWD Field Office-11 has delivered 21,203 family food packs (FFPs) to the provinces of Davao del Norte, Davao de Oro, and Davao Oriental.
Goc-Ong added that the Davao Field Office has already plotted the preferred distribution points of local chief executives to speed up the distribution of assistance while avoiding duplication.
“We will ensure that all requests from all affected LGUs will be fulfilled,” she assured Secretary Gatchalian.
According to Goc-Ong, all Provincial Quick Response Teams and Municipal Action Teams in the affected areas have been activated to ensure the efficient and fast delivery of assistance to the affected citizens.
There are now around 3,664 families or 11,797 individuals who are staying in 60 evacuation centers across Davao Region.
“The Field Office also has over Php69-million worth of standby and stockpile funds ready for augmentation to localities if the need arises,” the Davao regional executive said.
An augmentation supply of 54,880 FFPs coming from the Visayas Disaster Resource Center (VDRC) are expected to reach Davao Region on Saturday (Jan. 20).
