LEGAZPI CITY: The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Bicol reported on Monday that government assistance to families affected by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami) has now amounted to PHP637.7 million. In a phone interview, Gremil Alexis Naz, spokesperson for OCD-Bicol, said humanitarian aid from various government agencies has benefited over 646,402 families across six provinces and one component city in the region.

According to Philippines News Agency, different national government agencies distributed the assistance as an immediate response to the needs of communities and families affected by ‘Kristine’. Agencies involved in the relief efforts include the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), which provided family food packs, non-food items, bottled water, hot meals, and financial aid; the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), which offered financial assistance through the Tulong Panghanapbuhay Para sa Ating Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program; and the OCD-5, which
supplied sandbags, “sakoline”, and blankets. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Coordinating Center for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management and several local government units (LGUs) also contributed to the efforts.

The OCD recorded that 109,749 houses were damaged by the storm in the provinces, with 24,184 totally destroyed and 85,565 partially damaged. Some 51 roads and bridges were still affected, of which 25 are not passable to any vehicles, three are not passable to light vehicles, 19 are only passable in one lane, and four are passable only to light vehicles. A total of 134 of the 142 reported power interruptions and outages have been restored.

Naz said 69,192 families or 285,468 individuals were displaced by the storm. Of this number, 29,715 families (120,796 individuals) were sheltered in 568 evacuation centers, while 39,477 families (164,672 individuals) stayed with relatives. In a separate interview, DSWD-5 disaster response management division information officer Carl Ja
mes Cabarles said distributions of aid are still being conducted regionwide. “The delivery of family food packs from Cebu and Manila is ongoing. We also continue to distribute it to our affected LGUs, while replenishments are also being conducted,” he said. Cabarles assured the affected communities and families that the government is doing its best as part of the commitment given by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. during his visit to Camarines Sur.