The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has already provided P18.2-million worth of relief goods for the victims of Typhoon Odette.
DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao expects more aid to be distributed when transportation and communication in the areas affected by the typhoon improve.
Currently, the agency is having difficulty delivering relief items and obtaining information due to the extent of Odette’s injury.
“Dahil nga sa naging damage ni Typhoon Odette, meron din tayong kinakaharap na mga challenges sa pagpapahatid ng mga relief items natin,” said Dumlao in an interview with TeleRadyo.
“Gayundin sa pagkalap ng mga karagdagang impormasyon. ‘Yung mga reports ay nahihirapan din tayong mag-generate dahil nga naapektuhan ‘yung linya ng komunikasyon, transportasyon, and of course ‘yung source ng ating kuryente.”
They also continue to liaise with local governments to ensure that the needs of the victims are met.
DSWD previously said they have P900-million worth of standby funds and prepositioned goods for disaster victims.
“Ang mga local government units, being the frontline in service delivery, meron rin po talaga silang mga standby funds and prepositioned goods.”
P18.2-million worth of relief goods distributed – DSWD
“At ang DSWD, gaya nga po ng nabanggit ko, as part of our resource augmentation mandate ay nagpapahatid po ng karagdagang supply sa mga LGU dahil batid nga po natin ‘no, na kinakailangan na dagdagan po ‘yung kanilang mga resources,” Dumlao explained.
According to the latest records of the Philippine National Police, 375 people were killed while 56 others were missing due to Typhoon Odette.
Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported the death toll from Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai) climbed to 375, while 56 others are missing.
Caraga region logged 167 deaths and Central Visayas has 170, while 24 were logged in Western Visayas, six in Eastern Visayas, one in Western Mindanao, and seven in Northern Mindanao, the PNP data said.
Based on the data from PNP regional offices, 500 were injured, broken down as follows: 364 in Central Visayas, 118 in Caraga, 15 in Eastern Visayas, and three in Northern Mindanao.
President Rodrigo Duterte has promised to seek an additional P2 billion and the initial P2 billion he initially pledged to help the provinces devastated by typhoon Odette recover.
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