RELIEF OPERATION. DSWD Secretary Virginia Orogo (center) leads the distribution of family food packs to disaster-affected fishermen and farmers in Narvacan, Ilocos Sur. (Photo courtesy of DSWD Regional Office 1)
SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Region 1 (Ilocos Region) has started distributing family food packs, as well as hygiene kits and sleeping kits, to disaster-affected families in some parts of the region.
Iryn Cubangbang, information officer of DSWD-1, in an interview Monday, said some 1,000 farmers and fishermen from Narvacan Ilocos Sur were the first recipients of food packs.
“Because of the bad weather caused by tropical depression and monsoon rains in the past days, the fishermen and farmers are the most affected, hence the need to provide them relief augmentation from the government,” Cubangbang said.
The food packs contained six kilograms of rice, four cans of sardines, four cans of corned beef and six sachets of three-in-one coffee, which are good for a family of five members, she said.
DSWD Secretary Virginia Orogo personally led the distribution to the farmers and fishermen of Narvacan, Ilocos Sur over the weekend.
Cubangbang further said they have also distributed family food packs in Pangasinan, which is now declared under state of calamity. Some 2,930 family food packs have been distributed in Calasiao, 2,000 in Urbiztondo, 1,000 in Bani and 500 in Urdaneta City.
She added that Dagupan City has requested 2,000 family food packs, which are now to be fetched from their office in Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan.
“Some sleeping kits and hygiene kits were also given to the evacuees in Calasiao town in Pangasinan,” Cubangbang said.
DSWD-1 has requested additional 20,000 family food packs from the National Relief Operations Center, while they have already downloaded 3,600 family food packs for Region 1, she said.
Cubangbang noted that a total of 100,277 families in Region 1 have been affected by the Tropical Depression Josie, which intensified the southwest monsoon, causing heavy downpour and flooding, especially in Pangasinan.
“After the relief augmentation operation, we will prepare for the recovery and rehabilitation activities, for the release of emergency shelter assistance and food or cash for work project,” she said. (PNA)
