The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office-1 (Ilocos Region) has already provided more than Php 144 million worth of food and non- food items, as well as over Php104 million in cash aid to families displaced by Typhoons Egay and Falcon, as well as the southwest monsoon, as of August 6.

The food items were in the form of family food packs (FFPs) while the non-food items comprised of hygiene kit, sleeping kits, and kitchen kits. Some 500 6-liter bottled water were also distributed.

The cash aid provided by the DSWD FO-1 were through the Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) and Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS).

“A total of 5,349 beneficiaries from various towns in Ilocos Norte have received cash aid under ECT, while 14,830 individuals benefited from AICS,” Ilocos Regional Director Marie Angela Gopalan reported to the DSWD Central Office on Sunday (Aug. 6).

Asst. Secretary Romel Lopez, who is also DSWD spokesperson, said help will be provided to the displaced families until they have fully recovered from the effects of the series of weather disturbances that hit the region.

“We will assist the families on their way to recovery in keeping with the marching order of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr that no disaster-affected families should go hungry,” Asst. Secretary Lopez said.

To date,  the Ilocos Regional Office, in coordination with concerned local government units( LGUs), continue to assist some 835 families  or 2,992 persons staying in 44 evacuation centers around the region.

At the same time, 420 families or 1,971 individuals outside evacuation centers were also provided with relief assistance by the FO-1.

To beef up its resources for the on going relief distribution in the region, the field office prepositioned the additional 10,500 food packs sent by the National Resource and Logistics Management Bureau (NRLMB) in its satellite warehouse in Lingayen , Pangasinan.

Regional Director Gopalan  assured DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian that his directive that all relief supplies are immediately distributed to those in need is strictly being implemented. #