The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office Cordillera provides relief items and financial assistance to the affected communities in the region affected by the effects of Severe Tropical Storm Florita.

“The hazard that we are facing right now is the loosening of soil due to heavy rains, especially at landslide and earthquake affected areas. So we are closely monitoring the areas regarding this, and our LGUs declared pre-emptive evacuation. We are supporting and augmenting their resources in evacuation centers,” DSWD Field Office Cordillera Regional Director Leo L. Quintilla said.

As of 12 noon of 26 August, a total of 39 towns, 140 barangays, 13, 744 families and 48, 952 individuals were recorded number of affected area and population in the region with a total number of four opened evacuation centers.  A total 83 families or 258 persons are inside evacuation centers while 291families or 900 individuals are outside the evacuation centers.

The agency also provided PhP 673, 879.10 total cost of assistance which comprised of 757 Family Food Packs (FFPs), 13 Hygiene Kits, 13 Family Kits, 7 Sleeping Kits, 4 Family Tents, 13 Kitchen Kits, 15 Laminated Sack.

In addition, members of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Kalinga, Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office, Office of Civil Defense and DSWD Field Office Cordillera on Wednesday delivered 25 kilos rice, 50 kilos rice, burial assistance of PhP 10,000 through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program of the DSWD and three DSWD family food packs to the family of Francis Bitanga.

Bitanga died after he was hit by a fallen tree amid the effects of storm.

In Benguet province, the agency also provided Psychosocial and Financial assistance amounting to PhP 10,000.00 to Ricardo Cosep Tiban Jr., an owner of the totally damaged house at barangay Ambiong in La Trinidad.

The agency remains steadfast and ready to provide augmentation to affected families with its stockpile of 50, 711 FFPs amounting to PhP 34, 148, 000.14 prepositioned in DSWD CAR warehouse and satellite warehouses in the region. The Field Office has also PHP 5, 269, 929. 50 standby funds readily available and subject for replenishment upon utilization.

As part of the continuous disaster response operations, the agency is continuously monitoring weather updates with its DSWD Field Office Cordillera Quick Response Team activated at the Regional Operations Center for monitoring of Areas of Responsibility. # DSWD FIELD OFFICE CAR, SOCIAL MARKETING UNIT, LAUREN ALIMONDO