The two weather disturbances that struck the country a couple of weeks ago have affected 3.2 million Filipinos, the Department of Social Welfare and Development said Saturday.
“And the total cost of humanitarian assistance is 275 million plus pesos — this is provided by DSWD, LGUs, NGOs, and other partners,” DSWD Disaster Response Management Bureau Chief, Director Chris Mathay, said.
At the weekly Saturday News Forum in Quezon City, Mathay disclosed that the severe typhoons, “Egay” and “Falcon”, have made “Secretary Rex Gatchalian to fully loaded all badly-affected areas in the country with family food packs.”
He said Gatchalian also instructed them “to give emergency cash transfers” for Filipinos to buy other important needs like medicines.
“That’s not just it, sabi din niya na magbibigay din tayo ng cash for work, this is, katumbas ng daily minimum wage at sa ganoon ay mabigyan ng hanapbuhay ang ating mga kababayan na nawalan ng trabaho. And, mayroon din tayong early recovery cash grants para sa mga nasiraan ng bahay at para sa ganoon matulungan natin silang bumangon muli,” Mathay further explained.
He added that there are still available relief resources that amounted to P2.2 billion.
“These are standby funds, quick response funds. This is cash and iyong cost of stock files natin, ito iyong mga food and non-food items — iyong food items is iyong family food packs, tapos iyong non-food items ay iyong mga kitchen kit, hygiene kit, sleeping kit, family kit; family kit, ang contents nito ay iyong mga clothing for the whole family, sa ama, sa ina at sa mga bata. Ang cost of stockpiles nito ay nasa P1.8 billion pesos,” Mathay said.
Meanwhile, Gatchalian also over the weekend, conducted a series of disaster response meetings with the heads of the LGUs in Central Luzon.
After conferring with Bulacan Governor Daniel Fernando, Gatchalian headed over to Pampanga for a luncheon meeting with Governor Dennis “Delta” Pineda and Vice-Governor Lilia “Baby” Pineda.
Gatchalian and top Pampanga provincial officials discussed the possible collaboration efforts to assist the Typhoon “Egay”-affected residents, including the provision of Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT).
Concluding these meetings was an appointment with Bataan Governor Jose Enrique “Joet” Garcia III at the provincial capitol.
The main agenda of the meeting was focused on the number of family food packs (FFPs) and other augmentation support for typhoon-stricken residents and communities of the local government of Bataan.