By Jose Cielito Reganit
MANILA – The total cost of humanitarian assistance provided to families affected by the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon in Negros Island has reached over PHP185 million, an official of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said on Monday.
During the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing, Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said the assistance was in the form of family food packs (FFPs), non-food items, and emergency cash transfers.
The DSWD spokesperson said that even before the reported lahar flow brought by heavy rains, the agency has continuously assisted Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, especially in areas surrounding Mt. Kanlaon.
“And dahil nga po sa pangyayaring ito, of course, ang DSWD ay patuloy na magpapahatid ng mga karagdagang pangangailangan sa pagkain at maiinom na tubig diyan po sa mga kababayan lalung-lalo na iyong mga nasa evacuation centers pa (Because of the new development, the DSWD will continue to bring additional food and potable water to our countrymen there, especially those that are still in the evacuation centers),” Dumlao said.
Based on DSWD data, a total of 23,000 families or over 92,000 individuals have been affected since Mt. Kanlaon erupted in December last year.
Of these, 2,448 families or 7,885 individuals have remained in 23 evacuation centers in the four localities.
Meanwhile, some 3,775 families or 12,156 individuals are staying with friends and relatives.
Dumlao said the DSWD has been providing other interventions, including the deployment of mobile kitchens, water tankers, and water treatment facilities, as well as psychosocial support.
She assured the Kanlaon-affected families that the Marcos administration was working overtime to ensure their safety and well-being.
“Sa ilalim po ng pamumuno ni President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. na nagbigay po ng kautusan sa DSWD na bigyan ng kapanatagan ng kalooban iyong ating mga kababayan na maapektuhan ng iba’t iba pong mga disasters, fully committed po ang DSWD sa pagtugon sa direktiba na iyan (Under the leadership of President Marcos, who has directed the DSWD to ensure the well-being of Filipinos who will be affected by different disasters, the DSWD is fully committed to comply with the directive),” she said. (PNA)
