The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 6 (Western Visayas) has released about P147.27 million worth of family food packs (FFPs) and non-food items (NFIs) to families affected by major calamities in the region from January 1 to June 20, an official said.

In an interview, DSWD-6 Disaster Risk Management Division Chief Erlyn L. Garcia said the bulk of the assistance was for families affected by the El Niño phenomenon and the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon.

She said 204,071 family food packs worth about P138.65 million were provided to El Niño-affected families, while 3,334 packs worth about P2.07 million were distributed to Kanlaon-affected families.

The remainder were for families affected by other incidents, including armed conflict, a fire incident, and an oil spill.

Garcia said the department also provided 3,606 NFIs worth P5.77 million, of which P4 million worth of such items were distributed during the volcanic eruption.

The DSWD disaster response operations management, information, and communication report showed that El Niño affected 551,479 families or 1,992,662 individuals, while the volcanic eruption affected 9,043 families or 27,596 persons.

“We have sufficient food packs and non-food items. We can request anytime from the National Logistics Resource Management Bureau,” Garcia said.

She noted that as of June 19, they have in stock 80,907 FFPs worth P86.8 million at the regional warehouses in Oton, Iloilo and Bacolod City, as well as prepositioned goods in 24 sites in the region.

They also have P62.68 million worth of NFIs and P8.5 million in standby funds.

“So, our total standby funds and stockpile is P161.99 million,” she said. (PNA)