DSWD sends aid to flood-affected families in Mindanao

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said its field offices in Mindanao are ready to provide aid to families affected by floods caused by heavy rains brought by the Southwest Monsoon or the Habagat.

The agency on Sunday said its Field Office 12 (SOCCSKSARGEN) and Field Office 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula) were ordered to use the prepositioned family food packs (FFPs) for the families affected by the floods, including those in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

According to DSWD, the following areas in BARMM affected by the flooding are:

• Maguindanao del Norte (12,518 affected families)
• Maguindanao del Sur (45,117 families)
• Lanao del Sur (4,874 families)
• Special Geographic Area (13,045 affected families)

“In line with the directive of Secretary Rex Gatchalian, we continue to coordinate with the concerned LGUs to determine the actual extent of the weather disturbance and to identify other interventions that can be provided to the affected families to ensure that they can cope with the effects of the southwest monsoon,” DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao said.

According to DSWD, at least 3,983 FFPs were released in Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao del Norte.

“As of Friday (July 12), 1,660 FFPs were distributed to families in Balabagan, Lanao del Sur, 823 FFPs in Kapatagan, while another 1,500 FFPs were provided to families in Matanog, Maguindanao del Norte. This immediate relief effort is part of the DSWD (Field Office) 12’s ongoing commitment to support communities in times of crisis,” DSWD Regional Director Loreto Cabaya said.

Meanwhile, DSWD Field Office 9 recorded at least 18,800 affected individuals in 30 barangays in Zamboanga Del Norte and Zamboanga Del Sur.

“We have already provided more than P2.5 million in relief aid, from the combined resources of the DSWD Field Office-9, LGUs (local government units), and non-government organizations, to the affected families,” Dumlao said.

DSWD said its regional office in Zamboanga Peninsula has more than P115 million in relief and standby funds that can be used for disaster response.

In a 24 Oras report on Saturday, parts of Mindanao experienced flooding and landslides due to the heavy rain, killing at least two people in Lanao del Sur. 

Meanwhile, at least five people in BARMM died due to floods. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News