DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian visited Catanduanes Tuesday to assess damage from Super Typhoon Uwan and assure residents of ongoing government assistance.
“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,” Gatchalian said, adding that the President ordered no affected family be left hungry.
The province requested 87,000 family food packs (FFPs), which the DSWD aims to provide within five days. Gatchalian emphasized that relief efforts will transition to recovery to help residents return to normalcy.
DSWD FO-5 has deployed aid across all barangays in Catanduanes, reaching 53,705 individuals, with 756 houses totally destroyed and 4,322 partially damaged. Total assistance amounts to ₱4.1 million, including 6,336 FFPs and 89 non-food items.
To ensure continuous support, DSWD maintains ₱123.5 million in standby funds, prepositioned relief stockpiles, a mobile kitchen at Matnog Port, Child- and Women-Friendly Spaces, a Mobile Command Center, and fully activated quick response teams.