By Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz
The severe weather that has affected parts of the country has forced thousands of people from their homes, with nearly 7,000 now taking shelter in evacuation centers, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said on Thursday, Aug. 6.
In its latest disaster response report, DSWD said 2,219 families, or 6,893 individuals, are staying in 35 evacuation centers in Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, and Zamboanga Peninsula.
Another 426 families, or 1,419 individuals, are temporarily staying with relatives or friends, bringing the total number of displaced persons to 8,312 in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, and Zamboanga Peninsula.
DSWD said the effects of the enhanced southwest monsoon (habagat), and recently, Tropical Depression Luis and Tropical Storm Maymay, have affected 26,412 families, or 88,738 individuals, in 290 barangays across CAR, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Bicol Region, and Zamboanga Peninsula.
It also reported that 13 houses were damaged, including one that was totally destroyed and 12 that sustained partial damage in CAR, Ilocos Region, and Cagayan Valley.
DSWD has so far provided ₱1,998,384.25 worth of humanitarian assistance to affected families.
Of the total, ₱1,798,072.78 came from the DSWD, while ₱200,311.47 was extended by local government units.
DSWD said it continues to keep relief resources on standby, including ₱1.58 billion in quick response fund, more than five million family food packs, and ₱1.33 billion worth of other food and non-food items for immediate deployment.
