The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 1 (DSWD FO 1) has significantly intensified its relief efforts in response to the increasing number of families affected by Super Typhoon “Carina”  in Region 1.

To date, the number of reported affected families in the region has escalated to a total of 89,741 families or 341,682 individuals. To address the increasing number of affected families, the DSWD FO 1 has provided a total of PhP17,498,635.68 through food and non-food items to provide prompt and compassionate assistance, tripling its efforts to support the most critically affected families in the region.

Currently,  the DSWD FO 1 has successfully distributed Family Food Packs (FFPs) to 4,369 families across 20 barangays in Luna, La Union that listed the most number of affected families in the province with 13,278 families equivalent to 39,513 individuals. 

“Nabaha sa barangay namin kaya agad kaming lumikas. Maraming nasirang pananim at apektado ang mga alaga namin kaya nagpapasalamat kami sa DSWD sa pagbibigay sa amin ng agarang tulong (Our barangay was flooded so we had to evacuate immediately. Many of our crops were destroyed and our livestocks were affected. We are very grateful to DSWD for providing us with immediate assistance),” shared Teodoro N. Limos, one of the residents who was severely affected by the flood from Barangay Rimos 5, Luna, La Union. 

The DSWD FO 1 Incident Management Team is closely collaborating with the Local Government Units (LGUs) to ensure continuous monitoring of the needs of displaced families. This coordination is crucial for assessing the conditions of families both within evacuation centers and those residing outside.

On the other hand, the DSWD FO 1 has expressed its gratitude to the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council 1 (RDRRMC1) for the logistics support which has been instrumental in facilitating the distribution of aid and ensuring relief efforts will be delivered in no time.

As response efforts continue, DSWD Uno remains committed in supporting the affected communities and addressing their needs in the aftermath of Super Typhoon “Carina.” The collaboration between national and local agencies underscores a united front in disaster response and relief, aiming to rebuild and restore the lives of those who have been hardest hit by the storm. By: Nicole Kasandra A. Lipawen, Information Officer II – Disaster Response Management Division