DSWD extends P339-M in aid to ‘Kristine’-hit Bicolanos

MANILA – The Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Field Office (FO) 5 – Bicol Region has so far provided more than PHP 339 million humanitarian aid to families and individuals affected by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name Trami) in the Bicol Region.

“In four days time, nai-deliver po agad natin sa Naga City ang 35, 000 family food packs (FFPs) kasama po yung six liters bottled waters at iba pang non-food items para sa siyudad ng Naga. Lahat po ng pangangailangan at request ng lahat po ng mga kababayan natin sa Bicol ay naipaabot na po natin sa kanila (we immediately delivered 35,000 FFPs to Naga City, including the 6-liter bottled water and other non-food items for the city. All requests and needs of our people in Bicol were all provided to them),” DSWD FO 5 Regional Director Norman Laurio told reporters at the DSWD Thursday Media Forum.

The humanitarian assistance was provided to 462, 969 families, he said.

The DSWD FO-5 also provided financial assistance amounting to PHP20.91 million under the agency’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) and Ayuda Para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP).

Laurio emphasized the whole-of-government approach directed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. was crucial in the disaster response operations in the Bicol Region, especially in reaching isolated areas that experienced flooding.

He said two days after Kristine struck the region, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian and Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao flew to Camarines Sur upon orders from President Marcos to monitor the ground situation and the ongoing disaster operations across the province.

“Katuwang natin ang halos lahat ng sangay ng gobyerno (Almost all branches of government are our partners) — Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine Air Force (PAF), Bureau of Fire Protection, lahat po yan. Kung inyo pong maalala, two days after dumating si Secretary Gatchalian sa Camarines Sur ay dumating po mismo ang ating mahal na Pangulo. Siya po mismo ang nag-order sa lahat ng concerned national government agencies na tulungan sa relief operations ang ating mga kasama sa Camarines Sur at Albay (all of them. If you can recall, our President personally came to Bicol following Gatchalian’s arrival. The President himself directed all concerned national government agencies to help in the relief operations in Camarines Sur and Albay),” Laurio said.

The DSWD officials also pointed out that President Marcos ordered the deployment of the presidential chopper and other PAF air assets, and with the help of the Indonesian government, the Malaysian Air Force, and Brunei delivered food and other relief goods to isolated areas.

President Marcos and Gatchalian also distributed PHP50 million in cash aid through the Presidential Assistance to farmers, fisherfolk, and their families in Camarines Sur and Albay on November 6.

Inter-FO augmentation

Social workers from other Field Offices, including from the Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, and Central Visayas, also assisted the DSWD Bicol Region in the camp coordination and camp management (CCCM).

Laurio said personnel from the different FOs are conducting psychological support to individuals inside the evacuation centers and are assisting in CCCM.

The DSWD FO-5, through its Protective Services Division, also provided psychosocial support to the bereaved families of those who perished at the height of Kristine. (PNA)

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