THREE towns have already received food packs intended for households affected by El Nino.

Records of DSWD Supply Unit reveal that these towns include Sta. Barbara and Alimodian in Iloilo; and Cuartero in Capiz Province.

According to supply officer Lunie Lasquite, a total of 19,184 food packs intended for 4,796 families were released to the three LGUs.

If broken down, the following were released:
• 2,800 food packs intended for 700 households of Sta. Barbara
• 3,368 food packs intended for 842 households of Alimodian
• 13,016 food packs intended for 3,254 households of Cuartero

Each pack contains six kilos of rice and 10 assorted canned goods. A household beneficiary will receive four packs equivalent to 24 kilos of rice and 40 assorted tins.

This brings to P14.8 million the total of releases to El Nino-affected areas.

Earlier, the DSWD revealed that seven municipalities heeded its call to submit their listing of El Nino-affected families.

The remaining towns which have yet to get the goods are Oton, Miag-ao, Janiuay, all in Iloilo; and Maayon in Capiz.

Regional director Rebecca P. Geamala continues on calling other LGUs affected to submit the list of affected families.

“The food packs are ready for dispatch. But we cannot release them without the list of those affected households from the LGUs,” said Geamala.

She also emphasized that disaster response remains to be the responsibility of the localities and DSWD only augments resources.

“Along with the rest of the government, both LGUs and other agencies, DSWD recognizes the urgency of responding to the situation of hunger affecting the poor. We are ready to augment the LGUs,” said Geamala./dswd6/May Grecia-Rago