Over Php2 Million in Aid Distributed to Families Affected by Tropical Depression Mirasol and Super Typhoon Nando

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has provided over Php2 million in assistance to families and individuals impacted by Tropical Depression (TD) Mirasol and the habagat, which were intensified by Super Typhoon (ST) Nando. The relief package includes 3,872 family food packs (FFPs) as well as non-food items such as family, kitchen, and sleeping kits, alongside laminated sacks.

Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao, spokesperson for DSWD and member of the Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG), confirmed on Monday, September 22, that these supplies have been delivered to disaster-affected communities in Quirino, Nueva Ecija, Camarines Sur, Capiz, and Iloilo. Local government units (LGUs) in these provinces coordinated with DSWD to facilitate the distribution and augment local response efforts.

According to the 6:00 a.m. report from the DSWD’s Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center (DROMIC), the combined impact of TD Mirasol, ST Nando, and the habagat has affected 31,626 families or 113,094 individuals across 297 barangays in Regions 1 (Ilocos Region), 2 (Cagayan Valley), 3 (Central Luzon), 5 (Bicol Region), 6 (Western Visayas), 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula), and the Cordillera Administrative Region.

In anticipation of further effects from ST Nando, the DSWD is intensifying coordination with LGUs to ensure the prompt delivery of relief supplies. This commitment was highlighted by DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian via a social media post on Sunday, September 21.

Secretary Gatchalian stated, "I just spoke with Governor Ronald Aguto of Batanes and assured him that following the President’s directive, 22,000 family food packs have been pre-positioned in various warehouses across Batanes, ready for deployment at any time. These were prepared months in advance as part of our Buong Bansa Handa Program."

The Buong Bansa Handa initiative ensures that nearly 1,000 warehouses nationwide are stocked with essential supplies ahead of natural disasters. Additionally, the DSWD maintains Php1.5 billion in standby funds and stockpiles of food and non-food items distributed across its regional field offices.

DSWD’s disaster response capabilities also include mobilizing equipment such as their mobile command centers, kitchens, water units, and tankers to support communities in need during emergencies.