The Department of Social and Welfare and Development confirmed that as of  12 noon today, 46 evacuation centers in Regions VI, VII, IX, X, and XII remain open providing temporary shelter to 5,912 families composed of 26,828 persons.

In Region VI, a total 13,844 families composed of 63,146 persons from the eight municipalities and four cities in the provinces of Iloilo, Negros Occidental and Antique were affected. To date, P1,784,924.00 worth of assistance were provided to the affected families from the combined resources of DSWD (P1,430,600.00) and LGUs (P354,324.00).

In Region VII, 3,387 families composed of 16,456 persons  from the three municipalities and three cities in the provinces of Cebu and Negros Oriental were affected. One evacuation center is still open serving 60 families or 300 persons at Sta. Catalina Central School in the municipality of Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental. DSWD-FO VII provided 45 sacks of rice in Bayawan City amounting to P60,750.00. In addition, 4,906 family food packs worth P1,226,500.00  were distributed yesterday, October 9 to the 2,453 affected families in the province of Negros Oriental at two packs per family.

In Region IX, a total of 12, 182 families composed of 49,731 persons coming from  Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay and the City of Zamboanga were affected. About 29 evacuation centers were opened providing temporary shelter to 5,437 or 24, 526 persons. Some 279 armed conflict family-victims who came from JFE, JR. Sports Complex, and the evacuation  centers along Cawa-Cawa Shoreline, Mampang Talon-talon and Sta. Catalina were transferred to Baliwasan Elementary School, ZC East Central School and Zambawood Elementary School due to flooding and storm surge.

In Region X, 334 families composed of 1,107 persons from Malaybalay City, Bukidnon were affected.  Of this, 30 families took temporary shelter at the Cabangahan Elementary School while 304 families or 987 persons sought shelter in their friends’ and relatives’ houses.  About P775,871.00 worth of relief assistance food and non-food items were provided by DSWD (P710,752.00) and the local government of Bukidnon (P65,119.00) to the affected families.

In Region XII, some 1,476 families composed of 7,755 persons from the two municipalities in the provinces of Sultan Kudarat and North Cotabato were affected. To date, two evacuation centers are still open serving 49 families or 294 persons at Tubon Barangay hall and North Manuangan Barangay Hall,  Pigcawan, North Cotabato.

Overall, some P3.27 million worth of relief assistance from the combined resources of DSWD (2.2 million) and LGU (P 1, 068, 019.00) has been extended to the victims of flooding.

Meanwhile, the DSWD remain on alert status for tropical depression “Santi.”  The DSWD Quick Response Teams (QRT) and Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) team leaders in areas along the path of typhoon “Santi” continue to coordinate with their respective local government units (LGUs) for possible pre-emptive evacuation. ###