ILOILO CITY — Severe Tropical Storm Kristine continues to wreak havoc across Western Visayas, with 20,403 individuals affected, based on the latest data from the Office of the Civil Defense-Western Visayas.
The storm impacted a total of 4,602 families, with Aklan bearing the brunt, accounting for the highest number of affected families with 3,104 and 15,289 individuals displaced.
Negros Occidental reported 911 families or 3,286 individuals affected, while Capiz recorded 396 families or 1,190 individuals. Iloilo also reported 638 individuals affected by the storm.
Flooding hit 83 barangays across the region, with 26 barangays each in Aklan and Negros Occidental; 20 in Iloilo, and 11 in Capiz. In addition to the flood, 39 houses were partially destroyed, and six houses were completely wiped out by the storm’s force.
Transportation was also severely disrupted with 371 passengers stranded at various ports in the region. Iloilo recorded the highest number of stranded passengers at 218, followed by 98 in Aklan, and 55 in Guimaras.
In response to the ongoing crisis, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Western Visayas, in collaboration with local government units (LGUs), already released P1.6 million worth of assistance.
The aid primarily came in the form of family food packs distributed to affected families in Iloilo, Capiz, and Negros Occidental.
According to DSWD Officer-in-Charge Arwin Razo, P839,735.28 worth of aid was distributed by the DSWD, while an additional P850,963 worth of goods were provided by local government units (LGUs).
“We recognize the fast action of our staff as well as those from the LGUs. We see the prepositioning of food packs to be very helpful because it makes the withdrawal of goods faster and easier. Goods are strategically located already in different sites in the region,” Razo stated.
As ‘Kristine’ continues to impact the region, relief efforts are expected to ramp up in the coming days to ensure the safety and well-being of affected residents.
