Manila: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has distributed over a million family food packs and nearly PHP700 million in aid to families impacted by tropical cyclones Maymay and Luis. According to Philippines News Agency, the Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Communication (DROMIC) report, as of 6 a.m. Monday, indicated that the DSWD has provided PHP690.911 million in assistance. This includes 1,015,417 family food packs, 12,710 non-food items, 16,971 ready-to-eat food boxes, and 162 other food items.

The report also highlighted that 6,949 families, or 24,181 individuals, are still residing in evacuation centers. The regional Field Offices of the DSWD have extended PHP2.253 million in financial aid to affected families and individuals. Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the DSWD Disaster Response Management Group stated that the Field Offices are collaborating closely with local government units and partner agencies to ensure timely assistance, particularly for those in evacuation centers.

Beyond relief supplies, the DSWD's Field Offices are delivering social protection interventions to help families cope with the emotional and psychosocial impacts of the disasters. In the Cordillera Administrative Region and Region 4-A (Calabarzon), 739 individuals have been supported through child-friendly spaces, 31 through women-friendly spaces, and 210 individuals through psychological first aid.

Three DSWD mobile kitchens have served 1,629 individuals in affected areas. Over the weekend, Field Offices in Regions 1 (Ilocos Region), 2 (Cagayan Valley), and the National Capital Region facilitated the distribution of additional family food packs and non-food items to affected families. Specifically, Field Office 1 distributed food packs in Bungalon and Calasiao, Pangasinan, and in Calasiao and Alaminos City, while Field Office 2 distributed non-food items in Claveria, Cagayan. The NCR Field Office released additional food packs to families in multiple cities, including Caloocan, Las Pi±as, Makati, and Quezon City.

Assistant Secretary Dumlao assured that Field Offices continue to deliver necessary assistance to evacuees and maintain a sufficient stockpile of family food packs nationwide. Currently, more than 4.354 million food packs are prepositioned across the country, along with PHP1.36 billion worth of other food and non-food items on standby at DSWD disaster resource centers and warehouses.