The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office III continues to assist some 61,274 families or 287,306 persons from 141 barangays in the provinces of Bataan and Zambales who were affected by Habagat which occurred on September 23.

Of the affected families, 4,691 families or 17,815 persons are still centers in the affected areas. The DSWD in coordination with Local Government Units (LGUs) provided the evacuees with food packs, bottled water and non-food items like water jugs, blanket, mosquito nets, mats and clothing.

As of yesterday, the total amount of assistance provided by the DSWD to affected families is P1.4M while concerned LGUs extended P668,087.

Likewise, DSWD-Region III is now processing the release of P270,000 burial assistance to the 26 bereaved families at P10,000 each and P5,000 each for those injured in the landslide in Subic and Zambales.

Secretary Soliman said that immediate cash and food-for work will also be provided to the affected families to meet their daily needs while clean up and repair of damaged houses are being done.

Emergency Shelter Assistance will also be given to families with partially damaged houses to enable them to undertake immediate repair.

For the municipality of San Marcelino, which was hugely affected by ‘Habagat,’ early recovery and rehabilitation are now being planned out. According to Director Apostol, initial discussion was done with Mayor Jose Rodriguez on the assessment of victims.