DSWD: P2.3M worth of aid released nationwide amid TS Kristine

The Department of Social Welfare and Development on Wednesday said that they have released more than P2.3-million worth of aid amid the onslaught of Tropical Storm Kristine.

“The DSWD has already provided Php2,326,978.60 worth of food and non-food items to the affected local government units (LGUs), specifically in the provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur, and Sorsogon in Bicol Region; Bacolod City in Region 6 (Western Visayas); and North Cotabato in SOCCSKSARGEN,” said DSWD Spokesperson and Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao in a statement. 

DSWD added that repacking of food packs continues at the National Resource Operations Center (NROC) in Pasay City to ensure sufficient stocks.

DSWD reports that there are already 112,437 families or 457,489 individuals affected by Kristine in over 815 barangays from Regions 2, MIMAROPA, 5, 6, 8,12 and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

There were already 4,092 families or 15,715 individuals seeking temporary shelters.

“The Quick Response Teams (QRTs) and Municipal Action Teams (MAT) of DSWD Field Offices in the affected regions were also deployed to assist local government units (LGUs) in the management of evacuation centers and other related-concerns,” the statement read.

Signal No. 2 is raised over 31 areas in Luzon as Tropical Storm Kristine maintained its strength and accelerated heading to the Isabela area.

Three people were reported dead in Bicol Region due to the impact of Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami), according to the Police Regional Office 5 (PRO5) on Wednesday.

Bicol regional police chief Police Brigadier General Andre Perez Dizon told reporters about the development, adding that one person was missing and six others were injured as of 6 a.m.

—Jiselle Anne Casucian/ VAL, GMA Integrated News