ILOILO CITY (PIA) — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 6 has distributed P168,867,202.34 worth food, non-food and cash assistance to families affected by calamities in the region in the 2nd quarter of 2024.
DSWD 6 Disaster Response Management Division Chief Erlyn L. Garcia, during the 2nd quarter Full Council Meeting of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council held last week, said that the relief comprises of 208,447 family food packs (FFPs) worth around P141,499,969.34; 3,606 non-food items (NFIs) worth around P5,771,233.00; and P21.596-million cash assistance.
The DSWD 6 report presented during the meeting showed that the bulk of the assistance went to the families affected by El Niño phenomenon and the families affected by the Mt. Kanlaon volcanic eruption.
The report also revealed that 204,071 FFPs worth P138,657,298.34 were given to families affected by the El Niño phenomenon and 3,334 FFPs worth P2.07 million were given out to Mt. Kanlaon eruption affected families while the remainder were given to families affected by other incidents such as fire, oil spill, and armed conflicts.
Garcia added that the bulk of the NFIs, numbered around 3,080 worth around P4.725-million were distributed to Mt. Kanlaon eruption affected families while the rest was distributed to families affected by the two incidents of armed conflicts in the region.
According to the report, 1,598 Mt. Kanlaon eruption affected families had received a total of P15.95-million cash assistance and 1,872 El Niño affected families had also received a total of P5.616-million.
Garcia also stated during the meeting that they have sufficient family food packs and non-food items and can request anytime from the National Logistics Resource Management Bureau, if need arises.
DSWD 6 also reported that as of June 19, 2024, they have a total of 33,994 FFPs worth P39.006-million stored at its Oton Regional Warehouse and 28,002 FFPs worth around P32.13-million in its Bacolod City Regional Warehouse while they had already strategically prepositioned around 18,911 FFPs worth P15.68-million across the region that can be utilized anytime for any eventualities. (AAL/EJB/PIA 6)
