The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has provided PHP7.846 million worth of humanitarian aid to families affected by Tropical Depression Wilma, an official reported Tuesday.

Based on the DSWD’s Disaster Response Operations Management, Information and Communication (DROMIC) report, a total of 4,157 families remain in evacuation centers due to the effects of Wilma.

Most of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) are in Romblon, Albay, Camarines Norte, Masbate, and several areas across Western, Central, and Eastern Visayas.

In a statement, Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) said DSWD’s concerned field offices have been continuously coordinating with the affected local government units (LGUs) to assess the needs of the affected families and individuals.

The field offices have distributed family food packs (FFPs), ready-to-eat food (RTEFs) boxes, non-food items (NFIs), and other emergency relief services.

Despite nearing the year-end, Dumlao assured the affected families that the DSWD is ready to respond to the request of LGUs for augmentation support.

“Ang DSWD po ay handang tumugon sa mga pangangailangan ng mga naapektuhan ni Wilma at ng mga nakaraang kalamidad. May sapat po tayong supplies. Patuloy po ang ating mga production hub sa pag produce ng family food packs kasi alam naman natin na ang ating bansa ay nasa Pacific Ring of Fire at very prone sa mga hazards kaya naman tayo ay naghahanda sa mga kalamidad (The DSWD is ready to answer the needs of those affected by Wilma and past calamities. We have enough supplies. Our production hub continues to produce family food packs because we know that our country is in the Pacific Ring of Fire and very prone to hazards, that’s why we prepare for calamities),” the DSWD spokesperson said.

Dumlao said the proactive preparations of the department are in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to ensure that families affected by disasters are immediately provided with food and other basic needs.

Aside from the IDPs, the DSWD has also extended assistance to individuals and families who were stranded in various ports due to the weather disturbance.

Some 1,900 stranded passengers in Nasipit Port in Agusan Del Norte, Matnog Port in Albay, and Castilla, Pilar and Bulan ports in Sorsogon were provided with RTEF boxes.

Dumlao reaffirmed the DSWD’s commitment to sustain relief operations and extend continuous support for the recovery of affected families, ensuring that no Filipino is left behind in times of calamity. (PNA)