LAPU: Over 5,000 victims of the massive fire that hit a coastal village in this island city last week received a total of PHP5.6 million worth of family food packs and non-food assistance, a social welfare official said Friday.

Shalaine Marie Lucero, director of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) – Central Visayas, said the relief operations for the disaster-affected residents of Sta. Maria of Barangay Pusok took place on two occasions this week.

She said among the goods delivered were 1,098 ten-liter bottles of water, 1,098 sleeping kits, and 2,196 malong (wrap-around garments).

The DSWD also distributed 4,622 family food packs.

As per DSWD-7 record, the affected families reached 2,202 or 5,151 individuals who are temporarily sheltered at Pusok Elementary School and Pusok Recreation Center in the same barangay.

Lapu-Lapu City declared a state of calamity after the huge fire razed more than 600 houses in Barangay Pusok on Dec.12.

Apart from the assistance from DSWD-7, the local gove
rnment unit (LGU) has provided a total of PHP7.2 million in aid.

‘We are still in close coordination with the LGU of Lapu-Lapu City and assured them that the agency has prepared to deliver more augmentation support to the affected families upon assessment and request,’ Lucero told the Philippine News Agency.
Source: Philippines News Agency