The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said it has spent a total of P1 billion on quick response funds for the victims of the last five tropical cyclones that hit the country.
“The DSWD has distributed more than P1 billion in total humanitarian assistance. Out of that, we have distributed more than 1.4 million family food packs here in the provinces affected by the five recent tropical cyclones,” DSWD Undersecretary Edu Punay said in a “Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon” interview.
Punay said the DSWD is expecting the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to release P875 million more funds this week or next week.
Since October 21, tropical cyclones “Kristine,” “Leon,” “Marce,” “Nika,” and “Ofel” have affected many regions in the country.
Due to the impact of “Kristine” and Leon, a total of 9,626,456 people were affected and 158 were reported killed, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). During “Marce,” 387,514 people were affected. Meanwhile, “Nika” and “Ofel” have affected 195,532 people so far.
Floods and landslides as well as damage to agriculture and infrastructure were reported during the onslaught of the recent tropical cyclones.
Typhoon “Ofel” is still inside the Philippine area of responsibility. In its latest bulletin, state weather bureau Pagasa said “Ofel” was last monitored 485 kilometers east-northeast of Daet, Camarines Norte or 610 kilometers east of Infanta, Quezon, moving west northwestward at 20 kilometers per hour (kph).
The typhoon was packing maximum sustained winds of 120 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph.
“‘Ofel’ is forecast to move west northwestward to northwestward over the Philippine Sea before making landfall along the eastern coast of Cagayan or Isabela on Thursday, November 14,” Pagasa said.
“It will then emerge over the Luzon Strait on Friday, November 15, and turn more north northwestward while slowing down before behaving erratically during the weekend,” it added.
The weather bureau said “Ofel” is expected to “steadily intensify within 24 hours and possibly make landfall during its peak intensity.” (PNA)