More than 1,000 volunteers heed DSWD’s call

MANILA, Philippines – The floods did not drown the spirit of volunteerism of Filipinos.

A total of 1,175 volunteers mobilized in assisting the repacking of food packs in the National Resource Operation Center (NROC) as of Thursday, August 22, according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). 

The packs were allotted to 20,014 families in affected communities.

READ: #MovePH: A #ReliefPH call for help

“We are thankful for the volunteers who immediately responded to our call and are now in NROC. We appeal for more volunteers since we have to repack thousands of family food packs for speedy distribution to all affected areas,” Social welfare Sec Dinky Soliman said.

According to Soliman, a total of 5,560 food packs were produced by 217 volunteers from 12am to 4am of August 22.

Typhoon ‘Maring’ damage

The DSWD estimated that a total of 367,444 families or 1.75 million people were affected by Typhoon Maring as of 12nn of August 22.

READ: #ReliefPH: Help tropical storm ‘Maring’ victims 

Central Luzon suffered the most damage. Of the 215,263 affected families (1,024,616 people), 78,333 families (380,162 people) were from Region IV-A. Meanwhile, 38,384 families (177,889 people) were affected in the National Capital Region (NCR).

There are currently 718 evacuation centers providing shelter to 48,346 displaced families with 214,857 people. 277 evacuation centers are in NCR, 244 in Region IV-A, 175 in Region III, 14 in Region I, 5 in Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and 3 in Region IV-B.

Some 71,165 families or 345,723 individuals who opted to stay with relatives and friends in safer areas are also being assisted.

DSWD had already released P12,842,250.00 for food and non-food items: P4,720,000.00 (NCR), 6,250,000.00 (Region III) and P1,872,250.00 (Region IV-A).

The items included family food packs, high energy biscuits, plastic mats, and blankets. 

Continuing operations

DSWD and local government units affected by Typhoon “Maring” continue to conduct massive relief operations in hard hit areas .

Soliman said that P22 million worth of relief assistance from the combined resources of DSWD, LGUs, and NGOs had been provided to disaster victims.

Soliman said operations are still ongoing and those interested to help can go to NROC at NAIA Chapel Road, Pasay City

“Mga volunteers, Tayo na sa NROC,” she tweeted. (Volunteers, let’s go to NROC!) – Rappler.com