The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), together with its concerned Field Offices (FOs), continues to conduct relief operations to respond to the needs of families and individuals affected by Tropical Depression Urduja, which dumped heavy rains that triggered severe flooding and landslides in the Bicol Region, Eastern and Western Visayas, and in Northeastern parts of Mindanao.

DSWD Officer in Charge Emmanuel A. Leyco very early this morning flew to Biliran with other cabinet officials on the orders of Malacanang to determine the impact of Urduja on affected communities and regions. As per latest reports, for instance in Tacloban, there is a looming water crisis as potable water supplies are seen to be enough only for the next three to four days. There is also no electricity, and several landslides have also been reported as well as the destruction of five bridges.

“We are constantly communicating and coordinating with local government units and all units of the NDRMMC to ensure that the affected regions receive the assistance they need.  The DSWD is determined to give all services and assistance it can to help Filipinos affected by Urduja. We are also saddened by reports of deaths and our regional offices will help the families of those who perished because of the flooding and the landslides,” he said.

DSWD-FO VIII is processing the procurement of additional 50,000 family food packs (FFPs) to be distributed to the affected residents in the region. The field office has already sent food packs and non-food items, including malongs, hygiene kits, and clothing as augmentation support to the affected cities and municipalities in Samar and Tacloban City in Leyte.

The FO has also created teams consisting of members from various DSWD programs for the conduct of rapid assessment in order to validate the data sent by the LGUs and prioritize areas that are affected the most when it comes to the provision of assistance.

The teams will be deployed to different provinces of Region VIII affected by ‘Urduja,’ including Leyte, Biliran, Eastern Samar, Samar, and Northern Samar.

DSWD-FO VII has also prepositioned 8,000 food packs in different warehouses in Dumanjug, Madredejos, Pilar, Poro, Tabogon, San Francisco, and Toledo, Cebu. Some 30,000 food packs are on standby in the FO’s warehouse in Barangay Tingob, Mandaue City.

Meanwhile, DSWD-FO V sent a total of 22,500 FFPs as prepositioned goods to the LGUs in the region. The field office provided 1,500 food packs each to the LGUs of Libmanan, Camarines Sur;  Esperanza and Placer, Masbate; and 1,000 FFPs each to the LGUs of San Jose, Tinambac, Balatan, Siruma, and Lagonoy, Camarines Sur; Panganiban, Bagamanoc, Virac, Viga, and Pandan, Catanduanes; Mercedes, Vinzons, and Jose Panganiban, Camarines Norte; and, Pilar, Sorsogon.

Moreover, the FO released 500 FFPs each to the LGUs of Canaman, Camaligan, and Bombon Camarines Sur; Donsol, Prieto Diaz, Juban, and Magallanes, Sorsogon; and, Jovellar in Albay.

DSWD-Disaster Response Assistance and Management Bureau (DReAMB) reported that as of 2 AM today, the weather disturbance has affected a total of 180,196 families or 766,221 individuals in 1,381 barangays in Regions V, VI, VII, VIII, MIMAROPA, and CARAGA.

Some 43,879 families or 190,247 are taking refuge in 572 evacuation centers in Regions V, VI, VII, VIII, MIMAROPA and CARAGA, while 11,816 families or 46,081 individuals are currently staying with their families and friends.

All evacuation centers in the affected provinces in the CARAGA Region are now closed, as families have safely returned to their homes.

A total of 48 houses were totally damaged and 101 were partially damaged during the onslaught of ‘Urduja.’ The damaged houses are located in Samar and Agusan del Norte.

To date, P37,614,147.80 worth of assistance has been provided to the affected families and individuals; of which, P 36,388,552.64 came from the DSWD, while P1,225,015 came from the LGUs.

The DSWD remains on red alert as it monitors the status of the affected families and as it responds to their needs. The Department also maintains its close coordination with its concerned field offices and affected local government units for the provision of augmentation assistance. ###