DAVAO CITY, March 24 (PIA)- The Department of Social Welfare and Development in the Davao Region has established 17 evacuation centers in Davao de Oro to cater to individuals displaced by the series of earthquakes on March 6, 7, and 8.

Angelic Pana, the focal point person on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management of the DSWD XI bared that they are able to set up 17 evacuation centers characterized by modular and family-size tents in four of the five municipalities in Davao de Oro which were affected directly by the earthquakes.

She revealed four evacuation centers in New Bataan, seven in Nabunturan, and four in Maco. 

“The evacuation centers serve as a temporary refuge of 7,628 individuals or 2,134 families,” Pana said.

She said they are also helping those outside the evacuation centers, who are staying with their relatives or in public open spaces. 

Pana said 7,737 individuals tantamount to 1,600 families were assisted by the DSWD XI.

“We gave them foodpacks, assistance to individuals in crisis situations, modular tents, family tents, and sleeping kits,” she said.

She also revealed that a total of 967 houses were totally damaged while 4, 179 were damaged partially.

Pana revealed that most of the totally damaged houses were in New Bataan.

She said that currently, the DSWD XI has a standby fund of P5-Million and a total of 29,959 family food packs prepositioned in five provinces and nine municipalities in the Davao Region.  (PIA XI-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)