SUSTAINED RESPONSE. Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) family food packs for five towns in quake-hit Surigao del Sur are unloaded on Wednesday (Dec. 6, 2023). The DSWD 13’s (Caraga) relief efforts have so far reached 21,615 distressed residents in the province. (Photo courtesy of DSWD-13)
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur – At least 21,615 distressed residents in this province have so far benefited from the ongoing earthquake response operations of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 13 (Caraga).
“The agency is currently working in close coordination with the local government units to ensure the efficient distribution process, reaching as many earthquake-affected families as possible," DSWD-13 said in a statement Thursday.
On Wednesday, the department provided family food packs (FFPs) to 15,488 residents in the towns of Bayabas, Cagwait, Barobo, Carrascal, and Cortes.
Bayabas had 1,283 recipients; Cagwait (1,162); Barobo (1,887); Carrascal (6,959); and Cortes (4,197).
On Dec. 5, a total of 6,127 affected residents in Hinatuan town also received their food assistance from the department.
DSWD-13 said the distribution of FFPs would continue in the next few days, in time for the provision of cash assistance through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation Program to those families whose houses were destroyed or damaged.
Data provided by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) showed that about 116,217 families from 237 barangays in the province were directly affected by the tremor.
The PDRRMO said at least 834 houses were damaged during the earthquake, estimated to be worth PHP10.3 million, and 20,977 families were displaced.
The tremor also killed two and injured 17. (PNA)
