Over 195K Cagayan Valley families distraught by Niko, Ofel, Pepito

BAGUIO CITY (November 19, 2024) -- At least 195,260 families (725, 206 individuals) from 1,433 barangays throughout the Cagayan Valley region were distraught by typhoons Niko, Ofel and Pepito, the social welfare department in that region said in its latest figures Tuesday noon.

Still, 5,615 families (18,638 indivs) are staying at 304 evacuation centers in various locations in Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcay and Quirino provinces,  while 11,382 families (42,468 indivs) who have sought temporary shelter with their relatives or friends were noted.

Summing up the total number of displaced families, DSWD Cagayan Valley regional director Lucia Suyu-Alan placed them at 16,997 families (61, 106 indivs) and 9,426 damaged houses (554 totally, 8,872 partially).

In terms of national government assistance, DSWD Field Office 2, according to Suyu-Alan, has provided a total of P90,881,004.42 worth of assistance to affected families, and promised available standby funds for its Quick Response Fund amounting to P3,000,000.00.

While 15,945 family food packs (FFPs) are available at the DSWD Region 2 Field Office in Tuguegarao City in Cagayan, 79 FFPs located in different warehouses and 15,866 FFPs propositioned in different towns across Cagayan Valley region.

According also to Suyu-Alan, they have facilitated the unloading of 1,500 FFPs through the help of Reserved Officer Training Corps (ROTC) of Saint Mary's University, PLT College, Inc., and Aldersgate College, Inc. in Bayombong town in Nueva Vizcaya as augmentation support to the families affected by Tropical Cyclone "Pepito.

DSWD-Region 2 also reported of facilitating the request for augmentation of the additional 13,000 FFPs for families affected by "Pepito" in Santiago City in Isabela, including the facilitation of the request letter of LPGMA Party list requesting for augmentation of 15,000 FFPs for Pepito- affected families in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan and Cauayan and llagan, both in Isabela.

The Cagayan public information office also reported that flooding-affected families in the province have reached a high of 15,778 (47,879 invids) as the Cagayan River continuous to rise Tuesday morning.

The Cagayan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) monitored that most flooding victims come from Tuguegarao City (11,360 families or 32,865 individuals)



This aside families also affected by the rising water of the Cagayan River in Alcala, Amulung, Baggao, Camalaniugan, Enrile, Lal-lo, Solana, and Sta Ana.