The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has initiated the delivery of more than 7,000 relief items to Apayao, a province in the Philippines that has been severely affected by recent typhoons and has declared a state of calamity. The relief effort includes 6,100 family food packs, 300 hygiene kits, 200 sleeping kits, 200 modular tents, 100 family kits, 20 family tents, and 200 rolls of laminated sacks, all being transported from a regional warehouse in Benguet to aid the typhoon-stricken communities.
Maria Aplaten, the director of DSWD-Cordillera Administrative Region, reported that the National Resource Operations Center has also allocated 10,000 family food packs, with 5,100 already delivered to Apayao. Efforts are underway to restock the DSWD-Apayao satellite warehouse with essential supplies. The transportation and distribution of these relief goods are being managed through a collaborative effort involving the police, military, the Office of Civil Defense, the Department of Public Works and Highways, municipal action teams, and local government units.
Apayao declared a state of calamity on November 9, following a recommendation from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council. This declaration facilitates the rapid deployment of aid and resources to the affected areas. According to the council’s report, Typhoon Marce impacted 13,964 families, totaling 49,398 individuals, between November 7 and 8. The typhoon caused significant damage, with agricultural losses amounting to PHP19.69 million, and damage to lifeline utilities like roads and bridges reaching PHP65.9 million. Additionally, damages to educational, health, and social welfare facilities were estimated at PHP11 million, with 66 houses completely destroyed and 4,769 partially damaged.
Director Aplaten emphasized the commitment to not only ensure the availability of supplies but also their prompt delivery, as instructed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. Continuous aid distribution is being carried out under programs such as the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations and the Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program. Aplaten highlighted the ongoing need for assistance in the region, which has been repeatedly hit by typhoons, underscoring the importance of sustained relief efforts.