CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — Member-agencies of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council 3 (RDRRMC 3) currently provide the needed assistance of families displaced by typhoon “Ompong” in Central Luzon.
“Data from Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) this morning showed that Ompong and monsoon rains affected approximately 52,213 families or 219,601 persons in 495 barangays of 40 municipalities and cities in Central Luzon. About 15,146 families or 56,818 persons are currently in evacuation centers,” RDRRMC 3 Chairperson and Office of Civil Defense Regional Director Marlou Salazar said.
DSWD reported that its National Response and Logistics Management Service delivered additional 3,000 family food packs (FFPs). A total of 4,665 FFPs are stockpiled at the regional warehouse and ready to be distributed to affected barangays when needed.
Moreover, Department of Health (DOH) deployed Composite Teams (Water Sanitation and Hygiene, Medical, Public Health, Nutrition, Mental Health and Psychosocial Services) with necessary logistics (Quad Services Commodities, Medicines and Personal Protective Equipment) in the provinces of Nueva Ecija and Tarlac.
DOH also deployed a Composite Team in Pampanga to augment in the conduct of Rapid Health Assessment in various flooded municipalities and city.
A composite team from DOH Regional Office 3 and Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital is set to augment operations in Cagayan Valley region.
“Troops of Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) are still conducting Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response Operations within its area of responsibility,” Salazar added.
NOLCOM troopers from the 84th Infantry Battalion performed rescue operations in Pangasinan and Nueva Ecija. They also distributed relief goods to the affected populace in Nueva Ecija.
Troops from the 91st Infantry Battalion, on the other hand, helped in clearing the blocked roads caused by fallen trees in Aurora.
NOLCOM will deploy aircrafts today for Rapid Damage and Needs Analysis and help in transporting relief goods to severely affected areas in Northern and Central Luzon.
Meanwhile, about 100 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) whose flights in Clark were affected by typhoon “Ompong” on Saturday each received Php5,000 cash assistance from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
Assistant Secretary Elmer Cato, who supervised the desks, said Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano himself instructed the regional consular office staff based in Angeles and City of San Fernando in Pampanga to set-up the assistance center inside the terminal of the Clark International Airport.
Cato added the DFA staff began processing claims early morning of Saturday to ensure that stranded OFWs will be given assistance to cover for their meals, accommodation and other expenses.