Tolosa, Leyte – Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman announced that the one millionth food pack distributed by the Department went to a 76-year old grandmother here, on the 14th day of the relief operations following Typhoon Yolanda.

Tolosa Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer (MSWDO) Erlinda J. Sabino identified the recipient as Adela Novio.

Lola Adela lives in Barangay Poblacion with her four children and four grandchildren. She said she has ten children and 30 grandchildren in all.

“We evacuated at the Legislative Building before Typhoon Yolanda arrived. I think we were saved by the mountain that partially covered us from the sea,” Lola Adela narrated in local dialect.

Lola Adela said that they have already received DSWD relief goods thrice from the previous rounds of distribution by their barangay officials. The family food pack she received from Sec. Soliman is the fourth her family got. They also received assistance from private groups and individuals.

Meanwhile, Tolosa Mayor Erwin Ocaña thanked DSWD for all the help his town has been receiving.

“We observed that people already have enough food to eat. What they need now is shelter assistance,” Mayor Ocaña said.

As of November 22, DSWD has distributed a total of 1,222,760 food and rice packs; 85,354 tins of canned goods, 233,964 liters of bottled water; and, 228,744 pieces of high energy biscuits to the affected areas of Typhoon Yolanda in Leyte and Samar provinces.