DSWD: Over 115,000 families still in evacuation centers after series of storms

Over 115,000 families are still at evacuation centers on eight regions in Luzon and Visayas following successive tropical cyclones that hit the country, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said Tuesday.

These regions are the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, and Eastern Visayas.

"Base sa pinakahuling ulat, mayroon pang more than 115,000 families who are still taking temporary shelter in 3,267 evacuation centers," DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said in a public hearing.

(Based on the latest report, more than 115,000 families are still taking temporary shelter in 3,267 evacuation centers.)

The DSWD has distributed more than 400,000 family food packs to areas affected by tropical cyclones Nika, Ofel, and Pepito.

This is equivalent to P125 million worth of humanitarian assistance, Dumlao said.

Among the most severely hit areas is Catanduanes, where Super Typhoon Pepito had its first landfall over the weekend.

Dumlao said 45,000 family food packs are being delivered, in addition to the previous 10,000 family packs that were pre-positioned before Pepito.

In a 24 Oras report, despite zero casualties in Catanduanes, at least 500 homes were severely damaged by Pepito's impact. — VDV, GMA Integrated News