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MANILA (UPDATE) — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said it prepared P10 million to help residents in Abra, which a powerful earthquake struck on Wednesday.
DSWD Cordillera Director Arnel Garcia told ABS-CBN's TeleRadyo that the aid will be released upon the instructions of Secretary Erwin Tulfo.
Residents with destroyed houses will receive P10,000 in assistance, while individuals whose houses were damaged by the earthquake will get P5,000, Garcia said.
He said the department was also ready to release 4,000 food packs for affected residents in Abra, with another 4,000 on the way there.
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"Ready kami anytime kung kinakailangan ay marami tayong food packs. On the way na rin ang mga food packs na reinforcement, papunta na ng Abra at handa pa kami kung kinakailangan," he said.
(We are ready anytime, we already have many food packs. The reinforcement food packs are also on their way to Abra, and we are ready if more is needed.)
The DSWD will also shoulder the hospitalization and burial expenses of earthquake victims, said Tulfo, who visited Abra hours after a magnitude 7 earthquake hit Tayum town.
"Lahat po ng mga sugatan natin, sasagutin ng DSWD (the DSWD will shoulder the cost), so they have nothing to worry about," he said.
Secretary Erwin Tulfo meets with local officials in Abra. DSWD CAR's Facebook page
The DSWD chief said around 70 houses, 20 government buildings and 3 bridges were damaged in Abra, according to local officials.
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All 27 towns in Abra are affected, with 4 towns still isolated, the DSWD said. These include the towns of Tubo, Daguiman, Bucluc, and Lacub.
Tulfo said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. instructed him to borrow a chopper from the military if injured individuals need to be transferred to the nearest regional hospital in La Union.
"Nagtutulong-tulong naman po, nagko-complement po ang PDRRMO, AFP, PNP. Tulung-tulong naman. Nandito po ang gobyerno, naka-alalay lamang po," he said.
(All agencies are helping each other, the PDRRMO, AFP, and PNP complement each other. We're all helping. Government is here and ready to help.)
After Bangued, Abra, Tulfo also visited Vigan in Ilocos Sur.
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As of writing, DSWD personnel are assessing the extent of the damage in areas rattled by the quake.
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