Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Eduardo M. Punay led the distribution of food and non-food items, and financial assistance to residents affected by floods and heavy rains brought by a low pressure area in the municipality of Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte on Wednesday, January 25.

The DSWD, through its Field Office (FO) IX, extended relief support to the local government unit (LGU) of Sibuco composed of 2,000 Family Food Packs (FFPs), 500 hygiene kits, and 500 sleeping kits.

In addition, about 153 families with totally damaged houses received financial assistance worth P10,000, while some 180 families with partially damaged houses got P5,000 under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program.

Aside from leading the distribution of relief and financial assistance, OIC Punay, together with other DSWD officials, made the rounds of various evacuation centers in the area.

After the visit to evacuation centers, OIC Punay led the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement with Sibuco Mayor Joel Ventura for the prepositioning of relief goods in the locality as part of the LGU’s disaster preparedness measures.

In a related development, some 412 flood victims from Zamboanga City also received cash aid worth P5,000 each through AICS, during a payout at a mall.

As of January 25, the Department has already provided more than P66.8 million worth of assistance to LGUs affected by the LPA in Mindanao and Northeast Monsoon in Luzon and Visayas.

The DSWD will continue to facilitate the prepositioning of relief goods to ensure that LGUs are prepared to respond to the immediate needs of their constituents whenever disaster strikes. ###