MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said that the number of Filipinos affected by the tropical cyclone Enteng has now reached 303,000.
This translates to over 80,000 families, and are located in the following areas:
- National Capital Region (NCR): Metro Manila
- Region II: Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino
- Region III: Aurora, Bulacan
- Calabarzon Region: Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, Rizal
- Region V: Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, Sorsogon
- Region VI: Antique, Negros Occidental
- Region VII: Cebu City
- Region VIII: Biliran, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Western Samar
According to the latest report from the DSWD, more than 14,000 families, or around 60,000 individuals, are temporarily staying in evacuation centers in the areas mentioned above.
“Yesterday, different government agencies involved in the response cluster assured that they will provide the necessary food packs, non-food items, evacuation centers, coordination with local government units, and the availability of medicines and other medical supplies in case people in the evacuation centers fall ill,” DSWD Secretary Irene Dumlao said in Filipino during a Malacanang public briefing Tuesday.
Over 150,000 food packs have been requested by various local government units, and the DSWD said it is expecting additional requests, particularly from the northern part of the country.
According to the latest Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center report from the DSWD, initial assistance has already been provided to the following areas:
- Metro Manila
- Albay
- Camarines Sur
- Antique
- Negros Occidental
- Eastern Samar
- Northern Samar
- Western Samar
These areas have already received family food packs as well as non-food items, such as family kits, hygiene kits, and kitchen kits, according to the DSWD official.
According to the state weather bureau, Tropical Storm Enteng is expected to leave the country by Wednesday morning. It is likely to strengthen the southwest monsoon, or habagat, which could bring intense rainfall to some areas across the country throughout the week before moving towards southern mainland China this weekend.
