QUEZON CITY (PIA) — Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR) disaster responders have continued serving thousands of residents Storm Nika (Toraji) displaced early this week, while preparing for the feared impact of Severe Storm Ofel (Usagi).
Office of Civil Defense (OCD) CAR Director Albert Mogol, in an interview on PTV 4’s Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon, said that until Tuesday, Nov. 12, said they have continued serving 812 families, or 2,008 individuals in the region’s 75 evacuation centers; as well as 547 families, or 1,862 individuals outside staying with their relatives and friends.
At the moment, Mogol said that 10,000 family food packs (FFPs) from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Earlier this week, the OCD distributed 6,000 FFPs through the local government units, particularly in Apayao province.
Nika initially displaced 4,024 families, or 10,876 individuals from 153 barangays in the region, Mogol added.
He said they are expecting 35,000 more FFPs from DSWD, in preparation for the feared onslaught of Ofel.
So, we are confident that this is more than enough FFPs to sustain our relief operations, and also in anticipation of the possible impact of the coming cyclone.
“Thus, we should be ready with the swift flow of logistics given the series of destructive cyclones that battered the country,” he said.
“The good news is, OCD-CAR has not received reports of Nika casualty, and even after Marce’s onslaught in Central Luzon.
He added that due to Ofel’s threat, the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has advised against allowing evacuees to return to their homes yet.
But he noted that “the ultimate decision falls under the local government units because they know the situation on the ground better.” (PIA DMD)
