Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Dinky Soliman today personally visited the towns of Cabiao and Jaen in Nueva Ecija, the areas hardest hit by TS ‘Santi, to assure the families who lost their houses of temporary shelter where they can stay while repairing or reconstructing their houses.

During her visit to the province, Secretary Soliman met with local chief executives to discuss areas for collaboration on recovery and rehabilitation efforts.

Secretary Soliman assured the affected LGUs that the DSWD will provide financial help for the construction of temporary and core shelters. She also vowed to implement cash for work and food for work in affected areas to help victims meet their daily food needs. Likewise, supplementary feeding will be given to children in ‘Santi’ affected areas to sustain their nutritional needs.

Secretary Soliman also visited the bereaved family of Irish Balingit, 16 years old, who was hit by a huge mango tree that fell on their house while she was sleeping.

The bereaved family will be provided with burial assistance.

As of 6:00 pm today, October 14, 2013, some 36 evacuation centers remain open in Central Luzon providing temporary shelter to 1,187 families composed of 5,036 persons.

The DSWD sent today additional 10,000 family packs worth P2.5 million to Central Luzon for distribution to affected families.

To date, total assistance to Central Luzon is P8 million coming from the combined resources of the DSWD and concerned LGUs.

DSWD Field Offices in other affected areas are also continuously coordinating with the Local Government Units to ensure all affected families are assisted. ##