The Department of Social Welfare and Development has distributed nearly P1.4 million in humanitarian assistance to families and individuals affected by the collapse of a nine-storey structure in Barangay Balibago, Angeles City, last May 24.
Based on data from the DSWD’s Disaster Response Operations Monitoring, Information, and Communication Division as of Sunday, the incident affected 99 families or 188 individuals.
Of the total, 61 were directly affected by the collapse, including families staying at the designated staging area while waiting for updates on ongoing operations. Another 38 families were considered indirectly affected because of their proximity to the site and the economic disruption caused by the incident.
The DSWD said the assistance included ready-to-eat food packs, family food packs, hygiene kits, P10,000 in financial aid, and psychosocial interventions to help address the immediate needs of affected residents and families.
At least six people have been confirmed dead, while 22 others remain missing.
Over the weekend, the DSWD also warned the public against scammers posing as beneficiaries of government assistance.
Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Irene Dumlao said individuals found to have misrepresented themselves as disaster survivors will face criminal charges.
The agency said at least one person who pretended to be a survivor of the building collapse was caught after allegedly trying to obtain food and financial aid intended for legitimate victims.
A report from DSWD Field Office 3 in Central Luzon showed that the man claimed he was buying a drink at a nearby store when the building under construction collapsed on May 24. He received assistance from the agency.
A further probe, however, found that he was neither a resident of the area nor connected to the construction site or any of the victims affected by the incident.
“Nakikipag-ugnayan po tayo ngayon sa mga awtoridad habang pinag-aaralan ang mga posibleng kasong maaaring isampa laban po sa nasabing indibidwal. Hindi po natin palalampasin ang anumang pagtatangka na ilihis ang limitadong resources na para po sana sa mga tunay na biktima ng trahedya,” Dumlao said.
“We are now coordinating with the authorities as we study possible cases that can be filed against the said individual. We will not tolerate any attempt to divert limited resources that should have gone to the true victims of the tragedy,” she added.