Acting on the directives of DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano – Soliman,  Region Eight has taken preparatory moves and other initiatives should the threat of El Niño phenomenon set in.

DSWD Region Eight Director Restituto Macuto stated that just like in any other disaster,  the agency is making an inventory of the stockpile of relief commodities intended for augmentation assistance.  As of to date,  there are over Php 2 million pesos worth of family food packs and other food and non-food commodities available,  the record revealed.

The DSWD Regional Director disclosed that last March 31 of this year,  the Field Office received a Sub-Allotment Release Order of Php9.6 M !  The fund is intended for food assistance and implementation of cash-for-work for the rehabilitation and recovery of El Niño damages.

He reiterated the Secretary’s statement that the “Department has adequate funds to augment the resources of local government units in responding to the needs of affected families in drought-stricken areas.”

“To date,  DSWD has provided a total of Php1,270,615,194.13 worth of assistance to 1,172,260 affected families nationwide.”