Malate, Manila – Despite the continuous impact of El Niño weather phenomenon in MiMaRoPa, 11,043 affected farmers/fisherfolks have remained resilient and optimistic that drought is ephemeral and will eventually end.

Department of Social Welfare and Development has consistently been part of this unwavering hope. Department has committed to unswervingly provided relief assistance to the affected areas.

As of 3PM, 20 April, DSWD has already delivered Php 1,701,960.00 to MiMaRoPa.

From 11,043 farmers/fisherfolks, 151 are from Oriental Mindoro; 2,551 from Occidental Mindoro; 878 from Romblon; 1, 205 from Marinduque; and 6,258 from Palawan.

In Cagayancillo, Palawan, all 605 Pantawid beneficiaries are affected.

Also, according to Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO), affected agriculture areas are the following: 62.6 hectares in Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro; 1,223.35 ha of rice fields in 14 municipalities of Romblon; 700 ha of cultivated lowland rice area in Araceli, Palawan; 408.94 ha of rice fields in Narra, Palawan; 884.1 ha of land in Quezon, Palawan; and 251.45 ha of land in San Vicente, Palawan.

DSWD is consistently preparing and delivering family food packs to the affected areas.

A total of 1, 428 family food packs were delivered to Araceli Palawan while 1, 598  were distributed to Roxas, Palawan.

In addition, a total of 478 family food packs were distributed to the municipality of Odiongan, Romblon while 300 family food packs, amounting to Php108,000.00 were delivered to Oriental Mindoro.

NJSC General Merchandisse in the province of Oriental Mindoro donated the following with a total amount of Php 940,197.30: 23,328 cans of corned beef; 20,800 cans of sardines; and 31,200 3-in-1 coffee sachet.

As of this writing, there is an on-going procurement of 2, 500 bottles of six-liter bottled water and 625 kilos of monggo in Oriental Mindoro.

In order to expedite the relief assistance to the affected areas, DSWD will deploy staff based on El Nino Deploymnet Plan and will continue its coordination with other concerned agencies such as Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Philippine Red Cross, Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), Church Organizations, and Local Government Units (LGUs).