More than 360,000 evacuees, 1M affected people need help

Voltaire Tupaz

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(UPDATED) Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman says her agency is now focusing on delivering food packs to affected areas

CHAOS. The Bulalak Covered Court in Marikina city is home to 180 families or 1,055 individuals affected by the recent flooding. Photo by Rappler

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – The number of people displaced since tropical storm Maring (international codename Trami) and the southwest monsoon battered Luzon on August 17 has slightly decreased from 390,875 people (83,849 families) to 366,806 individuals (78,413 families), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said Wednesday night, August 21.

The DSWD reported 52% (40,637 families or 186,341 individuals) of the total number of displaced people cram in 541 designated evacuation centers across Luzon as of 6:00 pm, Wedneday, August 21.

Meanwhile, at least 37,776 families or 180,465  people have sought shelter in the homes of their friends and relatives to escape the onslaught of the weather disturbance.

Most of the displaced people are in Region III (152,333 individuals), followed by the National Capital Region (144,345 individuals) and Region IV-A (67,042 individuals).

Metro Manila hosts the most number of open evacuation centers — 244 temporary shelters serving 28,023 families.

To date, Region III opened 131 evacuation centers for 3,053 families or 12,709 individuals, while CALABARZON has 131 existing centers accommodating 8,186 families or 36,237 individuals.

But the number of people affected by the weather disturbance continues to rise. As of 6:00 in the evening, Wednesday, the number of affected people Luzon rose from 1,065,353 individuals (225,056 families) to 1,125,000 (238,412 families), the DSWD reported.

The affected areas cover 1,062 barangays, 111 municipalities, 31 cities, and 16 provinces. Most of the affected people came from Central Luzon (64%) followed by NCR (13%) and Region IV-A (12%).

Find out the nearest evacuation centers in Metro Manila and other affected areas:

Priority: Food for affected areas

Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman said her agency is now focusing on delivering food packs to affected areas.

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“The goal is to repack goods to produce 100,000 food packs. We are also coordinating with the International Organization of Migration for camp management support,” Soliman told Rappler.  

DSWD has allotted P113.2 million worth of emergency relief resources for the affected regions. The assistance package includes a standby fund worth P12.93 million, P10.42 million worth of food packs, and P89.9 million for other relief items.

Volunteers

Soliman earlier appealed for volunteers to help package relief goods at the National Resource Operations Center (NROC) in Pasay City.

“The response is positive and the private sector, ordinary citizens, young and older people are sharing their talent and time to volunteer,” she said.

Soliman expects the number of volunteers to increase by today, August 21.

Rappler created a page where volunteers can sign up.

SIGN UP AND VOLUNTEER: #MovePH: A #ReliefPH call for help

Rapplee has also compiled a list of relief initiatives for victims.

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

FInd out what the needs are on the ground.

#MovePH: Bridging the gap

If you are organizing a relief drive or are accepting relief donations, let us know by tweeting @moveph or emailing us at move.ph@rappler.com. Use the hashtag #ReliefPH. – Rappler.com

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