DSWD: 5 last cyclones depleted P1B quick response fund

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Wednesday said it has spent a total of P1 billion in the quick response funds for the victims of the last five tropical cyclones that hit the country.

“More than P1 billion yung total humanitarian assistance na po ang naipamahagi ng inyong DSWD. Out of that, more than 1.4 million na family food packs ang ating naipamigay dito sa mga probinsiya na apektado ng limang nagdaang bagyo,” DSWD Undersecretary Edu Punay said in a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon interview.

(The DSWD has distributed more than P1 billion in total humanitarian assistance. Out of that, we have distributed more than 1.4 million family food packs here in the provinces affected by the five recent tropical cyclones.)

“May natira pa tayo so far na P100 million na standby funds. But the good news, mabilis po ang replenishment ng ating pondo when it comes to disaster response,” he added.

(So far we have P100 million standby funds left. But the good news is, the replenishment of our fund is fast when it comes to disaster response.)

Punay said the DSWD is expecting the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to release P875 million more funds this week or next week.

Since October 21, tropical cyclones Kristine, Leon, Marce, Nika, and Ofel have affected many regions in the country.

Due to the impact of Kristine and Leon, a total of 9,626,456 people were affected and 158 were reported killed, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). During Marce, 387,514 people were affected. Meanwhile, Nika and Ofel have affected 195,532 people so far.

Floods and landslides as well as damage in agriculture and infrastructures were reported during the onslaught of the recent tropical cyclones.

Typhoon Ofel is still inside the Philippine area of responsibility. In its latest bulletin, state weather bureau PAGASA said Ofel was last monitored 485 kilometers east-northeast of Daet, Camarines Norte or 610 kilometers east of Infanta, Quezon moving west northwestward at 20 kilometers per hour (kph).

The typhoon was packing maximum sustained winds of 120 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph.

“OFEL is forecast to move west northwestward to northwestward over the Philippine Sea before making landfall along the eastern coast of Cagayan or Isabela tomorrow (14 November) afternoon,” PAGASA said.

“It will then emerge over the Luzon Strait on Friday (15 November) and turn more north northwestward while slowing down before behaving erratically during the weekend,” it added.

The weather bureau said Ofel is expected to “steadily intensify within 24 hours and possibly make landfall during its peak intensity.”

Meanwhile, PAGASA said the tropical storm with international name Man-Yi is expected to enter PAR on Thursday evening and will be named Pepito.

PAGASA said Man-Yi may intensify into a severe tropical storm on Wednesday and reach the typhoon category by Thursday afternoon or evening.

The tropical cyclone could even reach the super typhoon category, it added.

Man-Yi was last spotted at 1,965 kilometers east of Eastern Visayas moving west-southwestward at 30 kilometers per hour (kph).

The tropical storm was packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph. —RF, GMA Integrated News