The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Tuesday, February 6, vows to continue to provide assistance to areas in Mindanao hit by floods and landslides due to rains.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian assured that the government has distributed 200,000 family food packs to people in Davao Region.
He shared that a single food pack can last up to three to four days for a family of five.
"Ibinigay iyan sa mga local government unit para idagdag doon sa kanilang mga pangangailangan," Gatchalian said during DZRH's Dos Por Dos.
"Kung titignan ninyo yung affected families, covered na covered na yung 200,000, sobra-sobra pa pero hindi tayo titigil diyan," the DSWD chief added.
Aside from family food packs, Gatchalian said that DSWD will also provide emergency cash assistance.
Starting Tuesday, he said that DSWD distribute cash aid, worth around Php 9,960, to at least 70,000 affected families in Davao Del Norte.
Gatchlian explained that DSWD will get the list of beneficiaries comes from the local government unit, and the amount will also depend on the severity of the damage caused by the inclement weather
The DSWD chief assured that the field offices of the agency will validate the list of recipients.
"Kausap natin kahapon yung local government ng Davao De Oro, hinihintay ko na lang yung listahan mula sa kanila pero doon around another 40,000 families ang mabibigyan ng tulong pinansyal," Gatchalian shared.
"Noong last Sunday, galing tayo sa Davao Oriental, that is another 60,000 to 70,000 na apektadong pamilya na nabibigyan ng tulong pinansyal," he added.
The secretary also assured the readiness of DSWD to conduct a manual pay-out for th cash aidsince some areas lost electricity, and internet connection due to damages in infrastructure.
"May mga field operator tayo everywhere, may mga tao tayo everywhere. Ang buong DSWD ay umaabot ng 37,000 precisely dahil sa ganitong mga pagkakataon na wala tayong choice pero manual (pay-out)," Gatchalian stressed.
