DSWD assists flood victims

Some P1,670,745.00 worth of assistance from the combined resources of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), concerned local government units, non-government organizations, and other government agencies were provided to families displaced by the flooding incident in Cotabato and Maguindanao.

Of this amount, P1.5 million worth is composed of the DSWD's initial 6,000 family food packs sent to DSWD-ARMM, DSWD said in a press report.

As of July 31, a total of 81,249 families or 404,789 persons were affected coming from the 273 barangays, 27 municipalities, three cities in the five provinces of Regions X, XII and ARMM. An increase of 13,046 families from the previous report of 68,203 families is noted. This is due to the inclusion of the newly reported affected municipality of Pikit, North Cotabato in Region XII.

According to Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman, 11 evacuation centers remain open providing temporary shelter to 875 families or 4,168 persons while 70,729 families or 352,904 persons are also being served outside the evacuation centers. The Secretary ordered an augmentation of 30,000 family packs intended for the affected families.

The remaining evacuation centers are all located in Region XII, Polomolok and General Santos City in South Cotabato; Pikit, North Cotabato and Cotabato City.

DSWD's Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) teams are continuously coordinating with the affected LGUs for data gathering and assessment of the victims' needs. (PNA)