P17-M aid given to Ursula victims

By: Jennifer P. Rendon

Help continues to pour in for individuals and families affected by Typhoon Ursula, more than a week after it brought havoc in Panay Island.

As of Jan. 4, 2020, the Department of Social Welfare and Development 6 (DSWD-6) reporter that P17 million of assistance was already given to affected families.

Around P13 million came from DSWD while around P3.9 million was provided by different local government units (LGUs) and other agencies.

May Rago-Castillo, DSWD-6 regional information officer, said the assistance is both financial assistance and food and non-food items.

She added that the agency recorded 289,650 affected families composed of 1,260,969 individuals.

There were 110 evacuation centers that open their doors to 1,078 displaced families.

On the other hand, 1,965 families stayed outside of the evacuation centers.

Four provinces – Capiz, Iloilo, Aklan, and Antique – have recorded scores of affected barangays.

Capiz topped the most number of affected villages at 346 with 106,942 families composed of 482,205 persons.

Except for the towns of Jamindan and Tapaz, all of its 14 towns – Cuartero, Dao, Dumalag, Dumarao, Ivisan, Maayon, Mambusao, Panay, Panitan, Pilar, Pontevedra, President Roxas, Sapian, and Sigma – and Roxas City were affected.

In Iloilo, there were 233 affected barangays in the towns of Ajuy, Balasan, Banate, Batad, Carles, Concepcion, Estancia, San Dionisio, San Enrique, San Rafael, and Sara; and Passi City.

Typhoon Ursula also affected 68,135 families in Iloilo.

Except for Balete, the rest of Aklan’s 16 towns – Altavas, Banga, Batan, Buruanga, Ibajay, Kalibo, Lezo, Libacao, Madalag, Makato, Malay, Malinao, Nabas, New Washington, Numancia, and Tangalan – were affected by the recent typhoon.

There were 273 affected barangays with Libacao and Numancia have yet to submit their reports on their affected villages.

Meanwhile, Antique is least for be affected among the four provinces.

Only 81 barangays in the towns of Caluya, Libertad, Pandan, and Sebaste were affected by the typhoon.

Meanwhile, DSWD-6 accounted 4,537 totally destroyed houses and 39,716 partially damaged houses.