DSWD provides over P745M worth of aid to drought-affected areas

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The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has so far provided P745 million worth of aid to drought-affected areas amid the looming very strong El Niño in the country.

DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao said the aid includes family food packs and emergency cash transfer to farmers.

"Nakapag-provide na tayo ng mahigit P745 million worth of humanitarian assistance sa mga lugar na nakararanas na ng mga dry spell tulad sa Isabela, Cagayan," Dumlao told Super Radyo dzbb.

(We already provided over P745 million worth of humanitarian assistance to areas experiencing dry spell like Isabela and Cagayan.)

"Sa Dinagat Islands, nakapag-provide din tayo ng mga food boxes. Parts of Northern Samar, Mountain Provinces, parts of Camarines Norte, parts of Catanduanes," she added.

(In Dinagat Islands, we provided food boxes, as well as in parts of Northern Samar, Mountain Provinces, Camarines Norte, and Catanduanes.)

PAGASA has warned of a possibly record breaking El Niño in the coming months, with less rains expected by October.

The state weather bureau said the El Niño could last until March or even June.

Dumlao shared that the agency continues to produce, preposition and store food packs in their warehouses.

"May mga naka-deploy din tayong mga specialized disaster equipment tulad ng water filtration trucks, water trucks... Pinang-a-augment natin 'yan sa iba't ibang lugar na nangangailangan ng tubig," Dumlao said.

(We already deployed specialized disaster equipment like filtration trucks, water trucks that are augmented in different places that needs water supply.)

Another program of DSWD is the Project LAWA at BINHI, which uses cash-for-work and cash-for-training schemes to help vulnerable communities.

"Sa mga lugar na kami naman ay nag-i-implement ng LAWA at BINHI, kina-capacitate natin ang vulnerable sectors para makapaghanda... Nagtatayo sila ng mga small reservoirs, at nagtatanim ng climate-resilient crops," Dumlao said.

(In places where we implement the LAWA at BINHI, we capacitate the vunerable sectors so they can prepare, like building small reservoirs and planting climate-resilient crops.)

Around 40 provinces are expected to experience lesser rainfall during the dry spell and drought. Once January comes, it is expected that this number could leap to 80. —KG, GMA News