The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is ready to assist local government units (LGUs) in the National Capital Region (NCR) in need of assistance to help cope with the effects of the southwest monsoon or habagat that affected Metro Manila on Wednesday (August 28).

“The Department is closely coordinating with affected LGUs for important updates and possible requests for relief augmentation,”  Asst. Secretary for Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) Irene Dumlao, who is also the agency’s spokesperson, said on Thursday (August 29).

As of press time, the DSWD has 270,540 boxes of family food packs (FFPs) available in its Disaster Response Centers, and Php109.80 million Quick Response Fund (QRF) at the DSWD Central Office.

The DSWD Field Office-NCR also has more than Php19 million in standby fund and stockpile of relief supplies ready to be tapped for augmentation to the LGUs.

The DSWD-NCR is also coordinating with cities that have open evacuation centers.

A total of 51 families or 197 persons are currently taking temporary shelter in four evacuation centers in the cities of Caloocan, Malabon, and Valenzuela.

“We advise all affected citizens to continue to coordinate with their LGUs to prevent any untoward incidents while staying in evacuation centers,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao said. #