The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) immediately came to the rescue of some 6,298 families affected by the flashfloods in the cities of Cagayan De Oro and Gingoog, Misamis Oriental due to continuous rains brought about by tropical depression "Auring."

Social Welfare and Development Secretary Esperanza I. Cabral said that DSWD-Field Office X has already provided P371,905 worth of 2,290 family food packs as assistance to the victims of flashfloods in the affected local government units. A family food pack is composed of food items such as rice, sardines, corned beef, meatloaf, noodles, and milk.

The 6,298 families comprising 29,208 individuals are from the 24 affected barangays in the aforementioned cities.

About 3,496 families sought temporary shelter in the 19 evacuation centers which opened and accommodated thedisplaced families.   Other families transferred to their friends' and relatives' houses.

In addition, the Quick Response and Social Welfare and Development (QR/SWAD) teams were immediately activated to assist the local government units in data generation, relief distribution, and management of evacuation centers. 

"The relief operation is ongoing and the DSWD is exerting all efforts in ensuring that all affected families will be given appropriate assistance," Secretary Cabral emphasized.

In a related development, the Siargao Island located in CARAGA has been declared under a State of Calamity.  Heavily affected are the municipalities of Sta. Monica and San Benito.

In San Benito, there were 165 families affected, while the number of affected families in Sta. Monica is still being validated by DSWD-CARAGA Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) team.

Secretary Cabral ensured that "the DSWD has sufficient standby funds and stockpile of relief commodities for augmentation assistance to the affected local government units.  
 
The relief efforts are in line with the thrust of the Arroyo administration to immediately attend to the needs of the flashflood victims in Mindanao. ### (DSWD-Social Marketing Service) January 6, 2009