Cost of assistance to victims of ‘Ruby’ reaches Php 93M

Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno visits some 800 poorest families who were evacuated to Baseco compound in Tondo, Manila on Monday (December 8, 2014) to ensure their safety as typhoon “Ruby” is expected to affect Metro Manila until Tuesday. (PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan)

MANILA — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said Thursday that cost of assistance to victims of typhoon Ruby (international name: Hagupit) has reached more than Php 93 million.

DSWD said that of the amount, a total of Php76.88 million was provided as an augmentation from the funds of the department while about Php 16.77 million were provided under the resources of the local government units (LGUs) affected.

Relief distribution is on-going as the department had opened several hubs that serve as the delivery and pick-up points for faster distribution of relief goods to severely affected areas.

‘Ruby’ made its landfall on Saturday in Dolores, Eastern Samar (Region VIII) and moved to other affected areas.

As of 7 a.m. Thursday, a total of 8,126 family food packs were repacked at DSWD-National Resource Operation Center (NROC) in Pasay City for distribution to affected victims in Region IV-B MIMAROPA.

Other relief hubs also in operation include the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC)and NFA repacking hub in Borongan, Eastern Samar.

To date 3,387 evacuation centers are still operational and serving 183,828 families, equivalent to 853,927 persons in areas hit by Ruby.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) had donated tents, blankets and tarpaulins for the towns of Dolores, Oras and San Policarpio in Eastern Samar.

Around 30,000 food packs from DSWD-XI were also sent to Oras, San Policarpo, Dolores, Arteche, Maslog, Guiuan, Mercedes, Salcedo, Lawaana and Sula in Eastern Samar, the hardest hit areas.

Among the areas hit by Ruby included Regions VIII, VII, VI, V, IV-B, IV-A, III, CARAGA and National Capital Region.

A total of 662,906 families, equivalent to 2,746,903 persons, were affected in these regions.

Partial and totally damaged houses were recorded in Regions IV-B, V, VII, and VIII while damages in agriculture and infrastructures in Regions IV-A,IV-B, V, VI and VIII.