Disaster, relief workers dispatched to assist Urduja victims in Dinagat, Surigao

BUTUAN CITY – Disaster and social welfare workers from the various local government units (LGUs) have been mobilized to assist the victims of the tropical depression Urduja in Dinagat Islands and Siargao Islands, Surigao del Norte.

The regional office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) here has also closely coordinated with the affected LGUs for possible assistance to the Urduja victims.

The DSWD 13 already positioned some 5,000 family food packs (FFPs) in mainland Surigao del Norte, 1,600 FFPs in Siargao Island and 600 FFPs in Dinagat Islands.

Initial report received by the regional quick response action center of DSWD 13 here stated that there are already 76 families with 287 individuals from Barangay Sta. Cruz and Barangay Justiniana Edera of LGU San Jose town, Dinagat Islands province who are evacuated to Sta. Cruz Elementary School and Justiniana Barangay Hall, respectively.

A total of 77 families or 292 individuals also evacuated including 1 family in LGU Pilar town, Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte and temporarily sheltered at the town’s designated evacuation center.

Some residents living within the landslide-prone areas in Dinagat Islands had already fled homes and sought refuge to some designated evacuation centers in San Jose town, also in Dinagat Islands province, it was reported.

However, it was also reported that the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) chapel in Barangay New Mabuhay, in Dinagat town, also in Dinagat Islands province was totally damaged due to strong winds on Thursday.

Some residents in Barangay Albor and Barangay San Antonio, both of Libjo town, also in Dinagat Islands, also fled home due to flooding brought about by heavy rain.

“Our social welfare staff and personnel are now mobilized to assist the affected LGUs in Dinagat and Siargao,” DSWD 13 Regional Director Mita Chuchi G. Lim told The Manila Bulletin on Saturday.

She also said the agency’s Disaster Response Assistance and Management Unit (DReAMU), under the leadership of Director Felino O. Castro V, the Social Welfare and Development (SWAD), and Provincial/City/Municipal Action Teams are continuously monitoring the situation on the ground in close coordination with the Local Social Welfare and Development Offices (LSWDOs) and Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (LDRRMOs).