The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office V is continuously providing relief assistance to families affected by Super Typhoon Yolanda which has entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility Wednesday, midnight.

According to the DSWD FO V Disaster Operation updated report as of Nov. 8, 2013, 7:00 PM, a total of P5,041,479 cost of assistance are provided in response to the requests of the local government units in Bicol Region.

The assistance provided in the provinces are: Albay – 1,000 sacks of NFA rice, Camarines Sur – 500 sacks of NFA rice and 350 food packs, Masbate – 1,000 sacks of NFA rice and 150 family food packs, Sorsogon – 1,000 sacks of NFA rice and 280 family food packs. In Municipalities of Matnog and Bulusan in the Province of Sorsogon, a total of 350 and 100 family food packs are provided, respectively.

The food packs includes 3 kilos of rice, 4 tins sardines, 2 tins corned beef, 2 tin vienna sausage, 10 pcs. of coffee amounting to P257.30 per food pack.

Also, a total of 281 barangays or 40,140 families are currently affected by Typhoon Yolanda as stated in the said report.

DSWD 5 Regional Director Arnel B. Garcia, CESO III, said that the Department is continuously providing augmentation support to affected families. “DSWD will also conduct stress debriefing to affected families caused by Typhoon Yolanda,” he added.

Meanwhile, a humanitarian mission meeting was conducted in Oriental Hotel, Legazpi City to provide support to the Provinces of Samar and Leyte in Region 8-Eastern Visayas.

“The Department will be sending 2 staff for psycho-social intervention to the affected families in Samar and Leyte,” Dir. Garcia said.***G.A.Lindio/E.E.Jerusalem