Over P57 million aid released to Surigao quake victims

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development has released more than P57.3 million in assistance to earthquake victims in Mindanao, according to DSWD Assistant Secretary for legislative affairs Irene Dumlao.

The assistance included food and non-food items that were distributed to families and persons displaced by the quake.

“Our DSWD field offices continue to haul and deliver family food packs to affected municipalities,” Dumlao said.

She gave assurance that the DSWD’s Disaster Response Management Bureau is coordinating with its regional counterparts regarding updates and requests for relief augmentation.

Data showed a total of 949,499 family food packs are available at the DSWD disaster response centers as well as in its field offices nationwide including Caraga and Davao regions.

Dumlao said the agency is maintaining more than P2.7 billion in standby funds, and has prepositioned relief items that could be tapped any time for disaster response operations.