DSWD’s call: We need more donations for 1.3M Lawin victims

A CALL for donations in cash and in kind has been sounded by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for the more than a million people affected by Supertyphoon Lawin in the northern areas of Luzon.

The social welfare department made the call yesterday as the agency continues its initial ground assessment of the affected areas.

They already identified the initial needs of affected residents based on the ongoing needs assessment in areas affected by Lawin, said DSWD Secretary Judy Taguiwalo in a statement.
“Our doors remain open to those who offered aid assistance, as long as they do not come with conditions and are locally available already,” Taguiwalo said.

“We also appeal to the public to have patience with us as we conduct the ongoing validation of areas affected and assessment of their needs because we want to ensure that all donations and relief items will not overlap and will be rationally distributed to rightful beneficiaries,” she said.

What are needed

The donations needed include canned goods, which are not expiring within six months; rice; clothing and underwear; shelter materials; jerry cans; cooking and kitchen kits; water; hygiene kits; and sleeping kits such as mats, blankets, and mosquito nets.

Donations in kind can be delivered to the nearest DSWD field office in the area while cash donations can be deposited in DSWD’s peso and dollar savings accounts.

Taguiwalo assured that all donations will be appropriately handled by the DSWD and these would be posted on the DSWD website for transparency purposes.

As of October 26, according to a DSWD-7 report, the number of families affected by the super typhoon in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Regions 1 (Ilocos Region), 2 (Cagayan Valley), 3 (Central Luzon), and 5 (Bicol Region) have totaled to 302,764 families or 1,352,002 persons.

Of this number, 199,514 families (873,655 persons) have been displaced, of which 1,141 families (4,132 persons) are currently taking shelter in 23 evacuation centers whiles 5,505 families (26,981 persons) are staying with their relatives and friends.

To date, P34.6 million worth of relief assistance has been provided to the affected families, with DSWD providing for P27.8 million of the said amount.