BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — The Department of Social Welfare and Development – Cordillera is intensifying its monitoring effort to look into the needs of the Cordillera population affected by Tropical Cyclone Marce, especially in the province of Apayao.
DSWD-CAR Assistant Regional Director for Operations Enrique Gascon Jr. said the focus is in Apayao as most of the monitored typhoon-affected population are in the province. As of the 1:00PM November 8 data of DSWD-CAR, there are 1,161 families or 3,403 persons from 73 barangays in Abra, Apayao, Kalinga, and Mountain Province affected by Marce, mostly in Apayao with 1,059 families.
For displaced persons, there are 809 families (2,317 persons) being served inside 64 evacuation centers. Sixty-three of the ECs are in the province of Apayao.
There are also 330 displaced families (1,004 persons) who are temporarily staying with their relatives or friends.
Gascon shared that with communication line and power interruption challenges in Apayao, the Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) officers have to go to the Provincial DRRM Office for monitoring, coordination and evaluation of the affected families in the province.
The DSWD-CAR is sending its mobile command center in Apayao for easier communication access with their local SWAD officers.
Gascon reported that a total of P439,430 worth of initial assistance were already provided to the typhoon-affected population and around P407,524 of the aid came from DSWD-CAR. He assured sufficient stockpile of food and non-food items that are ready for augmentation to local government units that need it.
As of reporting period, DSW-CAR maintains 63,394 Family Food Packs, around P53.29 million worth of non-food items and a standby fund of P2,999,920. Gascon shared that in support to the other regions affected by the typhoons, the DSWD-CAR will be sending 10,000 FFPs from its regional warehouse in La Trinidad, Benguet to DSWD-Region 2 while another 3,200 FFPs will come from its Kalinga warehouse.
“Our satellite warehouses are ready for immediate transportation of food packs. Same as our regional warehouse, ready to cater to the other needs not only for Cordillera provinces, we can also provide augmentation to other regions. So nakahanda po ang DSWD CAR to augment just in case you need augmentation,” Gascon said. (JDP/CCD-PIA CAR)
