ANTIPOLO CITY (PIA) – The government has provided cash and food assistance to victims of Tropical Storm Enteng, which hit parts of the Calabarzon on September 2.
During his visit to evacuation centers in Rizal and Laguna, Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian said that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is working closely with local government units to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches affected families and individuals.
“I understand that the past few days have been challenging, and I want you to know that the national government, under the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., is focused on your situation,” Gatchalian said.
Gatchalian led the distribution of food packs to families and individuals displaced by the storm in Antipolo City and Cainta, Rizal. Additionally, he provided Php 10,000 in cash assistance under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program to the families of seven victims who died in flash floods and landslides in Antipolo City.
In Cainta, Rizal, the DSWD Field Office – CALABARZON distributed 198 boxes of family food packs to displaced families at Kabisig Elementary School in Barangay San Andres. The DSWD Secretary also visited evacuees at the Rosario Complex in San Pedro, Laguna, where 128 family food packs were distributed.
Gatchalian commended the local chief executives of the three affected local government units for their prompt and effective assistance.
“When the LGUs are well-organized, it helps us do our job more efficiently,” Gatchalian said.
As of this report, the DSWD has provided a total of Php 5.26 million in assistance to families affected by the storm. According to the latest figures, 22,871 families are affected and are seeking temporary shelter in 241 evacuation centers, primarily in Rizal Province.
President Marcos has fully mobilized the government to support those affected by Tropical Storm Enteng, which has impacted several regions across the country. He reported that over Php 16 million in humanitarian aid has been delivered to the hardest-hit areas. (MBL, PIA4A with reports from DSWD)
