President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed government agencies to accelerate relief operations and ensure immediate assistance reaches communities hit by persistent torrential rains and flooding across the country.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro confirmed on Sunday that the President continues to closely monitor conditions in affected towns, issuing standing orders for government bodies to respond promptly to displaced residents.
The combined impact of the enhanced southwest monsoon (Habagat) and tropical cyclones Luis, Maymay, and Neneng has affected more than 2.378 million families, or roughly 8.35 million people, across 5,959 barangays in 11 regions.
Data from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Disaster Response Operations Monitoring, Information and Communication (DROMIC) Division show 35,522 families (122,549 individuals) are currently sheltered across 1,115 evacuation centers in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon and the Zamboanga Peninsula. An additional 13,376 families (52,370 persons) are temporarily staying with relatives or friends.
In response, total government aid has reached P1.69 billion, including over P1.56 billion provided by the DSWD and P82.48 million funded by various local government units (LGUs).
DSWD Assistant Secretary and Spokeswoman Irene Dumlao announced that the agency remains on red alert, mobilizing all personnel and resources to support local governments. The agency has already distributed 2.335 million family food packs, 23,694 ready-to-eat food boxes, and more than P16.66 million in direct financial assistance.
Relief augmentations, including mobile kitchens delivering hot meals, have been actively deployed to hard-hit municipalities in Central Luzon (such as Pampanga, Bataan, Zambales and Tarlac), Mimaropa and Metro Manila. The DSWD is also appealing to private donors for food, clean drinking water, and new clothing, while encouraging volunteers to assist in repacking operations.