Amid difficulty of reaching the towns hit by the earthquake on Tuesday, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will go to Loon in Bohol today to distribute 1,850 food packs, 5,000 bottles of water (5.6 litters per bottle) and 25 tents for the affected families .

“We will immediately distribute the goods today by batch, ferried through boats due to impassable roads,” DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman said.

On the other hand, the Municipality of Maribojoc in Bohol remains isolated because the Abatan Bridge and main roads were destroyed. To reach the isolated town, the DSWD used local boats called ‘bandong’ to transport 1,400 sacks of family food packs that were distributed yesterday to the affected families.

DSWD Region VII Director Mercedita Jabagat said that the residents in Maribojoc  are having difficulty in sending text messages for updates and requests for help since the town does not have electricity right now.

“We are requesting the private sector if they can lend power generators to Maribojoc as well as to the nearby affected towns,” added Director Jabagat.

As of 3 pm, 85 evacuation centers in Bohol and Cebu remain open temporarily housing 20,034 families with 97,618 persons.  On the other hand, the DSWD continues to assist 12,666 families with 60,848 persons outside evacuation centers.

More than P1.6 million worth of relief assistance was provided to LGUs of Bohol. An additional P10 million was released to DSWD Field Office VII for the purchase of relief goods.

Meanwhile, more than a hundred volunteers flocked to DSWD Field Office VII to assist in the on-going repacking of relief goods.  Volunteers also worked side by side with DSWD staff at the operations center in Tagbilaran City.

Secretary Soliman assured that all concerned government agencies are doing their best to provide the necessary support to earthquake victims. ###