President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered the swift delivery of relief assistance to thousands of residents affected by flash floods in Zamboanga City over the weekend.

In a Palace press briefing on Monday, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro announced that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has already distributed 571 boxes of family food packs (FFPs) to families affected by flash floods in Barangay Pasonanca.

“Baha sa Zamboanga City, aabot sa halos 600 boxes ng family food packs ang ipinamahagi sa mga flash flood victims. Sa utos ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., agad na kumilos ang DSWD upang matiyak na mabigyan ng tulong ang mga apektadong pamilya,” Castro said.

Castro said the President directed the DSWD to ensure continuous aid delivery and adequate attention to the needs of displaced residents.

“Mayroon nang mahigit 100,000 food packs at 20,000 non-food items na na-prepositioned sa Zamboanga para sa emergency response sa rehiyon,” Castro said.

The DSWD-Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) stated that the food packs were distributed within 24 hours of the flooding incident on Saturday, July 5.

The DSWD Field Office IX, in coordination with the Zamboanga City Social Welfare and Development Office, led the response.

DSWD data showed that a total of 739 families, or 2,374 individuals, have been affected, with nine evacuation centers sheltering displaced residents from Barangays Tumaga, Pasonanca, Boalan, Tugbungan, and Lunzuran.

The DSWD said additional relief operations are underway to reach all affected communities.

“We are ready to support LGUs as they respond to the needs of their disaster-hit constituents,” Dumlao said. | PND