Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Judy M. Taguiwalo said that the Department has had a relief shipment of ready-to-eat food, family food packs and water ready to be airlifted to Basco and Itbayat, Batanes since 14 Sept.

“We have also coordinated with the Armed Forces of the Philippines for a the use of c130 and c295 aircraft, but the planes have not been allowed to take off because of the  inclement weather. As soon as the weather clears, our relief mission proceeds. We are well aware of the gravity of the situation, but this  is so far the only way we have to provide augmentation to the LGUs of Basco and Itbayat and our affected kababayans there. We want to reassure the public that our response clusters are monitoring the developments  closely.  The airforce is also on standby and as soon as weather conditions permit, they will fly very early tomorrow,” said DSWD Sec. Taguiwalo.

The Department has also prepositioned relief goods to all towns in Batanes Province prior to the onset of the typhoon.  To date, the DSWD has provided relief assistance worth P620,200 to Batanes Province.

Here are the latest updates gathered from DSWD SWAD Team Leader in Batanes, SWO II Rosemarie L. Bartolome who traveled from Basco to Uyugan where Smart communications is now functional:

1. Affected families in Basco – 2, 160 families with 8,250 persons.
2. Of the 2,160 families affected in Basco, 16 families (131 persons) evacuated in Diptan Elementary School; 3 families with 15 persons evacuated in Batanes State Colleges and 1 family with 5 persons evacuated in Kayvaluganan Barangay Hall. Internally displaced persons are still at the evacuation centers.
3. As to damaged house in Basco: totally damaged – 288; partially damaged – 551; relief goods distributed – 110 sacks of rice, 46boxes of meatloaf, 56 boxes of sausage, 21 boxes of sardines
4. In the Municipality of Ivana – 116 families with 464 persons affected; 1 totally damaged house and 58 partially damaged houses; 30sacks of rice distributed
5. In the Municipality of Uyugan: 395 families with 1,500 persons affected; 3 totally damaged houses and 323 partially damaged houses; 30 sacks of rice distributed
6. In the Municipalities of Mahatao and Itbayat – no information yet as to the affected families, however, even before the onset of the typhoon, prepositioned goods were released to these municipalities: Mahatao-35sacks of rice; Itbayat-60sacks of rice and Sabtang-35sacks of rice.
7. The DSWD is aware that the affected families need water and canned goods as they are not available in the local market.

Some 50 sacks of rice were prepositioned at the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) for additional allocation to the affected municipalities.

As of today, there are 164,218 family food packs available amounting to P61,335,271.04 and other food and non-food items amounting to P176,916,901.05.

Moreover, the DSWD has a total P806,841,491.52 standby funds at the Central Office and affected Regional Offices.

Sec.Taguiwalo added that the Central Office is in constant communication with the DSWD units in Batanes regarding the situation there.

“Assistance to our kababayan in Batanes affected by Ferdie and Gener are on the way. DSWD is ready to fulfill its augmentation role to the relief efforts of local government units of the province who are the first responders. We fully support the efforts of the LGU to help our affected kababayans and we will also do our best to give all the assistance within our means to help in relief and rescue operations,” she said.

Based from the latest (partial) report, typhoon Ferdie has affected some 2,710 families or 10,344 persons in Ilocos Norte of Region I and the provinces of Batanes and Cagayan in Region II.  # # #