AID FOR QUAKE VICTIMS. The Department of Social Welfare and Development has allocated more than PHP11 million worth of aid for quake victims in Mindanao. The relief operations of the agency are still ongoing. (Contributed photo)
MANILA -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Monday said it has provided more than PHP11 million worth of aid for earthquake victims in Mindanao since its operations started on October 29.
“Food packs, medical kits, and other basic necessities were given to the victims and the operation is still ongoing so madadagdagan pa po ang PHP11 million na figure (the operation is still ongoing so the figure will be more than PHP11 million),” said Irene B. Dumlao, DSWD Social Marketing Service chief.
The series of quakes that hit parts of Mindanao displaced 31,465 people in Davao Region and Soccsksargen since Monday.
As of press time, PHP4.2 million worth of assistance has been provided to 28,656 families or 143,280 individuals in North Cotabato, while PHP2.07 million were released for 6,984 families or 34,920 persons in Davao Del Sur.
During the weekend, DSWD Field Offices in Central and Southern Mindanao continued their relief operations, reaching out to more quake-affected families and individuals.
"We assure our kababayans in Makilala that help is on the way. We are looking for the fastest way possible to deliver assistance, especially in areas isolated due to landslides," DSWD Field Office 12 Director Joel Espejo said.
DSWD Field Office 12 said that based on the report of the North Cotabato provincial government, residents from barangays Malasila, Kisante, and Old Bulatokan who were appealing for assistance along the highway have already been provided with relief assistance.
The landslide, he said, has also made other areas like Barangay Luayon hard to reach but residents were provided with assistance through airdrop onboard a helicopter by the Philippine Air Force.
A total of PHP1.4 million worth of assistance, as of 6 p.m. on Saturday, has already been provided to the affected families in the town.
Dumlao also added that there are more funds for victims in case the situation escalates.
On the other hand, DSWD social workers are issuing family access cards to families identified by LGUs as quake victims to ensure that only legitimate victims will receive the goods. The access card entitles a family to receive relief and other forms of assistance.
Donations
To ensure the smooth coordination for donations in kind, interested donors for quake-affected families may go through the local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (DRRMC) or at the Incident Command Posts prior to the distribution of goods.
On the other hand, for cash donations, the public is urged to go to the respective local DRRM accounts or deposit directly to the Office of the Civil Defense-National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (OCD-NDRRMC) account with the following details:
Account Name: NDRRMC Donated Fund
Account Number:
0435-021927-030 (PESO Current Account)
0435-021927-530 (DOLLAR Savings Account)
SWIFT CODE: DBPHPHMM Account No. 36002016
Address: Development Bank of the Philippines, Camp Aguinaldo Branch, PVAO Compound, Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City, Philippines. (PNA)
