Assistant Regional Director for Operations Restituto Macuto returned to field office yesterday night from his land and aerial survey in the Samar provinces, with updates that a total of 72 evacuation centers have already closed and a total of 3,690 families have now returned to their respective homes.

Now, there are just 51 existing evacuation centers with 4,025 affected families in Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, and (Western) Samar.
The data from ARDO Macuto further indicated a total number of 114,250 affected families with 505,045 individuals in 569 barangays of the province of Northern Samar.

Relief goods are continuously being extended to affected localities. Currently, 820 sacks of 25-kg rice and 250 boxes cereal drink for babies were already provided to Northern Samar Province, 700 sacks and 150 boxes to Eastern Samar, and 200 sacks and 50 boxes to Biliran Province.

Eastern Samar and Northern Samar are still experiencing power black-out and unavailability of communication lines.###