DSWD 7 releases over 50K food packs to 461K families

(Photo by the Department of Social Welfare and Development Central Visayas)

 

The Department of Social Welfare and Development Central Visayas (DSWD-7) has released 58,488 family food packs (FFPs) to at least 461,000 families of the 31 out of 72 requesting local government units (LGUs) in Central Visayas as of December 26, 2021. 

Daisy C. Lor, Disaster Response and Rehabilitation Section Head of the DSWD-7, said during the daily assessment meeting of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC) 7, the total cost of assistance has now reached P30,344,920 in the region that were affected by the onslaught of Tyhpoon Odette (International name: Rai).

Out of the 58,488 relief packs delivered, 26,888 were allocated for Bohol, amounting to P12,502,920 while 16,600 more, worth P7,719,000 were set aside for Negros Oriental. About 15,000 FFPs were given to Cebu amounting to P6,975,000.

Lor said some of the food packs shipped to areas in Bohol came from the DSWD Central Office / National Resource Operations Center (NROC) and the Visayas Disaster Response Center (VDRC).

A total of 21,700 FFPs for the 12 LGUs in Bohol are still in transit as of Monday, Dec. 27, she added.

Lor also said that of the 31 LGUs who requested for FFPs, 15 are from Bohol which include: Balilihan, Batuan, Bien Unido, Buenavista, Carlos P. Garcia (Pitogo), Candijay, Calape, Getafe, Inabanga, Loboc, Maribojoc, Panglao, Talibon, Trinidad, and Ubay. 

In Cebu, there are eight LGUs which are Argao, Barili, Boljoon, Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, San Fernando, Sibonga, and Ronda.

There are also eight LGUs in Negros Oriental who requested for food packs and these are Ayungon, Bais City, Bindoy, Canlaon City, Jimalalud, La Libertad, Manjuyod, and Tayasan.

Lor said, "Atong i-ensure na everytime naa sila'y (warehouses) ma-pack, ato gyud ni siyang i-release within the day per request nila."

She added that the DSWD's standby funds amount to P8,473,695 which they will immediately disseminate along with the food packs, other food items, and non-food relief items.

The DSWD 7 has continuous coordination with the Visayas Command - Philippine Coast Guard, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) 7, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and other RDRRMC 7 Response Cluster agencies and the trucker groups and associations, among others for the transport and other logistical needs.

(Photo by the Department of Social Welfare and Development-7)

Also, starting Monday, Dec. 27, the DSWD are distributing burial assistance for those families whose members died during the wrought of the typhoon.

Meanwhile, on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, the DSWD 7 received donations from the Government of Taiwan through the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in the Philippines.

The first batch of donations contained 350 boxes of water, 206 boxes of instant noodles, 18 boxes of canned tuna, and 100 boxes of cookies.

The following day where a ceremonial turnover was also held at the Mactan-Benito Ebuen Airbase in Lapu-Lapu City, the office received 46 boxes of tents, 17 boxes of water filter, 835 boxes of food rations, and 125 boxes of cookies.

Representatives from TECO, OCD 7, and Philippine Air Force attended the ceremony. The donations will be distributed to typhoon-affected towns and cities in Bohol, Cebu, and Negros Oriental. (IDC/PIA7/DSWD7)