Sarangani, Davao Occidental, November 23, 2023 – After traveling 13 hours in the sea via BRP Tagbanua (LC-296) of the Philippine Navy from the Davao City port, the team from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office XI, Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) Region XI, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) – Easter Mindanao Command, and the Philippine Coast Guard arrived today at the shores of the Municipality of Sarangani, Davao Occidental to turnover the food and non-food items (FNFIs) and financial assistance to the affected families of 6.8 magnitude earthquake last November 17, 2023.

A total of 1000 family food packs and five sets of tents as temporary shelters have been distributed with the help of the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Sarangani to the earthquake victims today by the DSWD FO XI team that arrived in Balut Island. 

Meanwhile, DSWD FO XI distributed a total of P234,000 to 93 out of 114 identified partially damaged households on the island. The remaining households who did not claim assistance today could not attend the distribution because they are off the island today. 

DSWD FO XI continues to monitor updates and reports of the damages caused by the earthquake through its Disaster Command Center to respond to requests for augmentation immediately. 

DSWD FO XI has a standby fund of P5,000,000.00, 38,402 family food packs amounting to P22,446,302.06, and non-food items amounting to P69,865,756.82. The standby fund and stockpile sum up to P74,865,756.82, readily available for augmentation to all requesting affected municipalities. ### (DSWD FO XI/EMCJr)

Sama-sama tayong babangon tungo sa bagong Pilipinas!

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