CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro (PIA) -- In response to the severe food inadequacy and water scarcity brought about by the ongoing El Niño phenomenon in the Mimaropa region, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Mimaropa through the Disaster Response and Management Division (DRMD) deployed a critical relief operation.

The DSWD has earmarked an extensive food assistance package worth ₱3.18 million to address the urgent needs of the affected communities and mitigate the harsh impact of this climatic event.

The assistance program, designed to provide immediate relief to those hardest hit by the drought, benefited a total of 13,535 families, or approximately 64,125 individuals across the region.

El Niño, characterized by the prolonged warming of Pacific Ocean surface temperatures, has historically posed significant challenges to the Philippines, affecting agricultural productivity, water supply, and overall community well-being.

The Mimaropa region, with its vast agricultural lands and dependency on natural water sources, has been particularly vulnerable to these climatic shifts.

The food assistance package comprises rice, canned goods, and other essential food items, aimed at sustaining the affected families as the region works to recover from the adverse effects of El Niño.

Respective Local Government Units (LGUs) from around the region have also stepped up to augment DSWD’s efforts in supporting and assisting the affected communities. (JJGS/PIA MIMAROPA)

BANNER PHOTO COURTESY OF DSWD MIMAROPA