DSWD chief assures swift aid to Uwan victims in Catanduanes

By Jose Cielito Reganit, Philippine News Agency

RELIEF OPS. Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian leads the distribution of relief items to typhoon-hit families in San Miguel, Catanduanes on Tuesday (Nov. 11, 2025). Gatchalian assured the townsfolk that the DSWD will continue providing support to meet their needs. (Photo: Department of Social Welfare and Development – DSWD/Facebook)

MANILA – Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Tuesday assured the townsfolk of Catanduanes province who were severely affected by Super Typhoon Uwan (international name Fung-wong) that the agency will continue providing support to meet their needs.

Gatchalian visited Catanduanes to check on the situation of affected residents and assure them of immediate government assistance after Uwan struck the province.

“Sa utos ng ating Pangulo Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. pinapunta niya ako dito kasama ng DSWD Disaster (Response Management Group) para mapag-usapan ‘yong mga kakailanganin pa ng ating mga local government units (LGUs) pati na rin ng ating probinsya (President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. instructed me come here, along with the Disaster Response Management Group to discuss the needs of the LGUs as well as the province)” the DSWD chief told residents.

He said the President ordered them to make sure no affected family would go hungry.

Gatchalian noted that the province requested for 87,000 family food packs (FFPs), and they would complete their provision in the next five days.

“Lahat ito ay alinsunod sa direktiba ng ating Pangulo na hindi kami titigil sa pagbibigay ng tulong, lalong-lalo na sa ganitong panahon, hanggang sa maka-recover ang ating mga kababayan sa Catanduanes. Pero hindi rin doon magwawakas, sabi ko nga sa kanila, pag natapos ang relief stage, recovery naman ang ating pag-uusapan at partner pa rin nila ang DSWD, kasi gusto ng Pangulo, mabalik ang kanilang mga normal na pamumuhay (All of these are in line with the directives of our President, that we will not stop providing assistance, especially during these times, until our countrymen in Catanduanes have fully recovered. But it does not end there. Once we finish the relief stage, we will go to the recovery stage. The DSWD will still be their partner, because the President wants to restore them to normalcy),” the DSWD chief said.

The DSWD Field Office (FO) 5 – Bicol has also provided immediate aid to affected families in all the barangays of Catanduanes.

As of Tuesday, a total of 53,705 individuals across 11 municipalities in the province were affected by Uwan’s impact, with reports of 756 houses totally destroyed and 4,322 partially damaged.

The DSWD’s total cost of assistance has reached PHP4,100,011, including 6,336 FFPs worth PHP3.96 million, and 89 non-food items (NFIs) amounting to PHP140,620.

To ensure continuous support, the DSWD’s FO-5, through its Disaster Response and Management Division (DRMD) and Regional Resource Operations Section, maintains standby funds totaling about PHP123.5 million and prepositioned relief stockpiles.

A mobile kitchen was also deployed in Matnog Port to serve hot meals to stranded passengers and families in evacuation centers.

The DSWD likewise established Child-Friendly Spaces and Women-Friendly Spaces to ensure protection and support for vulnerable groups.

These areas host play-based and creative activities that promote normalcy and psychosocial recovery among displaced children.

To further enhance coordination, the DSWD activated its Mobile Command Center in Catanduanes to facilitate faster communication and assessment, and fully activated quick response teams to ensure continuous delivery of services.