At least three million persons have been affected by Severe Tropical Storm “Paeng,” the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said Tuesday.
“Right now, we are currently monitoring our fellow Filipinos and based on our estimation, the affected individuals reached around three million in all regions of our country affected by Paeng,” DSWD Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Romel Lopez said in an interview with Super Radyo dzBB.
Meanwhile, Lopez said the department has at least P186.4 million quick response fund and P82 million available standby fund in its regional offices.
“Currently, we have a P186.4 million quick response fund, this is just at the central office. The available standby fund of the regional offices is still at P82 million. Our prepositioned foodpacks are at around 46,441,” he said.
Lopez also noted at least 76,000 displaced families are staying in temporary shelters in the National Capital Region (NCR), Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Regions 1, 2, 3, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Regions 7, 8, 9, and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
The DSWD official said they were given help and financial assistance including those outside evacuation centers.
Lopez said at least P69 million worth of assistance were already distributed, of which P65 million came from the DSWD and P3 million from several local government units.
“We distributed at least P69 million worth of assistance, of which P65 million came from DSWD which were family food packs and cash assistance.
And more than P3 million came from the LGUs. We also have received assistance from NGOs about P13,600,” he said.
Lopez said they prioritized giving help to those who lost their homes and family members due to Paeng.
Families who lost relatives due to Paeng received P10,000 assistance from the DSWD, he said.
“Usually the help we give to them is around P10,000. For example, for our fellow Muslims in BARMM who have relatives who died due to Paeng, they received P10,000 outright.”
The DSWD also opened its office to receive donations for Paeng victims. The department said it is accepting cash and in-kind donations.