DSWD-12 extends aid to flood victims

KORONADAL CITY - Long before calamity struck in South Cotabato and nearby areas, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-12) has already stock piled relief packs to be distributed to families affected, a DSWD official said.Norhata Benito, chief of DSWD-12 disaster reduction and management section, more than 6,000 food packs have been distributed to flood stricken communities in South Cotabato, Saranggani, Sultan Kudarat and North Cotabato.Speaking over DXOM-AM, Benito said aside from supplemental assistance from the regional office, the local front liners or first responders of DSWDhave already extended assitance.She said each food pack costs P300, containing rice, coffee, canned goods, and other basic eeds.Financial assistance were also distributed to surviving families of those who died during landslides in Tupi, South Cotabato and Glan, Saranggani.Recognizing no boundaries, DSWD-12 also extend assistance to families affected by sudden surging of water level in the Maguindanao.Its Quick Response Team immediately responded on the day the calamity struck in South Cotabato and other provinces, she said.Benito said DSWD has standby P2 million fund that could be disburse as the need arises.She said both DSWD-12 and DSWD in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao have reserved stocks of food packs for easy dispersal.Four died, five others wounded when flash floods hit the SOCCSKSARGEN region on June 24. Several infrastructure were also destroyed by flash floods.Light to moderate rain with occasional thunderstormMindanao is still happening in most of Mindanao today, PAG-ASA said.