ILOILO CITY – Following an aerial inspection of the damaged areas in Capiz, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte led the distribution of aid to families affected by Tropical Depression Agaton on Saturday.
During the distribution, President Duterte was joined by Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, Secretary of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Rolando Bautista, and Capiz Governor Esteban Evan Contreras at the Pontevedra Elementary School in the municipality of Pontevedra.
“The DSWD will be present.” “We will sustain the food for as long as there are people who cannot eat,” he said in his message.
In a media interview, DSWD Regional Director Evelyn Macapobre stated that, in addition to the standard assistance of food packs, sleeping mats, kitchen and hygiene kits. They also began providing PHP5,000 cash assistance to the first 148 affected families.
“We based our decision on a list provided to us by the LGU (local government unit) and validated by our employees.” The list does not come from us because they (LGUs) are more familiar with the situation, but we simply validate it,” she explained.
In the coming days, DSWD personnel will visit affected municipalities that have already met the requirements for receiving Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS).
“Because our fund is limited, we will prioritize those who are truly in need based on the availability of funds,” she explained, adding that they only request funds based on the LGUs’ lists.
If late submissions are received, the DSWD will continue to accept them and forward them to their central office for appropriate action.
Macapobre went on to say that even though it is election season, the Department is exempt from the poll tax.
She also emphasized that the DSWD’s assistance is only a supplement because it is the LGUs’ primary responsibility to assist their affected constituents.
In addition to cash assistance, the DSWD has already provided PHP4.8 million in food and non-food assistance to the province’s affected families, which includes 8,800 food packs, 200 sleeping mats, hygiene kits, and drinking water.
As of today, the DSWD has recorded 102,380 families or 383,496 individuals in Capiz who were affected by “Agaton.”
According to the Capiz Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), 107 barangays in the province are still flooded as of 11 a.m. on April 16, and 64,447 families or 259,731 people are still staying in evacuation centers.
In addition, 11 people have died, seven people are still missing, and 196 people have been injured, three of whom have been admitted to hospitals.
During their meeting on April 12, the PDRRMC agreed to declare Capiz a state of calamity pending the resolution of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. ###
Photo Credits to RTVM and Presidential Communications
