Distribution of family food packs in Barangay Upian, Marilog District.

DAVAO CITY –A total of P P 89,399,915.75 to date was provided by the regional office here of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to help out families affected by the drought due to El Niňo.

Under the Cash-For-Work for Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation (CCAM), a total of P 80,204,589.00 was extended to 15 municipalities in Davao Del Sur and Davao Occidental, said Assistant Regional Director for Operations of DSWD Rebecca A. Santamaria.

Benefiting 38,483 El Niňo-affected families, CCAM  covered canal de-silting and de-clogging, dike repair, coastal clean up and vegetation, river dredging, mangrove planting and rehabilitation, seawall expansion, road clearing and rehabilitation, repair of day care center and barangay hall, garbage clean up, tree planting, among others.

On the other hand, the latest release on family food packs was to the 1,540 IP farmers in barangays Marilog Proper, Suawan, Gumitan, Upian, and Pegalongan, all in Marilog District.

Santamaria said each family received 25 kilos rice, 16 cans sardines, 16 cans corned beef and 24 sachets of 3-in-1 coffee.

Earlier, DSWD distributed 2000 family food packs in Barangay Malamba, also of Marilog District.

Some 3,000 family food packs were also provided to affected families in Carmen, Davao Del Norte; 1000 in Maco, Compostela Valley; 5129 in Sta. Cruz, Davao Del Sur; 1447 in Cateel, Davao Oriental and 4000 released for the province of Davao Del Sur.

DSWD records show that a total of P 9,195,326.75-worth of family food packs have been released to date.

Santamaria said DSWD has pre-prositioned 2,000 food packs in every province and 500 each in all municipalities that have storage area or warehouse.

At the moment, DSWD is conducting validation and assessment in Lupon and San Isidro in Davao Oriental which has requested some 15,463 family food packs, as well as in Sta. Maria, Davao Occidental that requested 10,840 family food packs, she said.

“Also, we are currently validating some areas in Toril and Calinan including Tugbok District’s barangays Tugbok Proper, Balengaeng, Manuel Guianga, Biao Guinga, Los Amigos, Biao Escuela, Matina Biao, Talandang and Tagakpan that have requested 4,922 food packs,” Santamaria added. (DSWD)