PAMPANGA - The Provincial Government, in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), has begun distributing food packs to evacuees staying in temporary shelters across five municipalities severely affected by the ongoing flooding. Relief operations are now underway in Arayat, Bacolor, Sto. Tomas, San Simon, and Minalin, providing initial immediate assistance to families displaced by the enhanced southwest monsoon.
Relief Operations and Government Response
The operation is being led by the Provincial Government and the DSWD, with logistics support from the General Services Office (GSO). This distribution serves as initial immediate assistance while the disaster continues, and further support is being organized to address the needs of affected families. The DSWD remains on red alert as it monitors the prolonged effects of the southwest monsoon, with more than 3.4 million family food packs prepositioned in various warehouses and other strategic locations nationwide . The DSWD also has PHP 558.77 million in Quick Response Fund available to support immediate disaster response operations.
Affected Areas and Ongoing Needs
The five municipalities receiving relief—Arayat, Bacolor, Sto. Tomas, San Simon, and Minalin—have been among the hardest-hit by the recent flooding. In Bacolor, the town's history of natural disasters, including the devastating lahar flows from the 1991 Mt. Pinatubo eruption, highlights the resilience of its residents and the importance of sustained government support during times of crisis . San Simon, meanwhile, is a strategic municipality situated along the North Luzon Expressway at the heart of Central Luzon's economic corridor, making the impact of flooding a concern for both residents and the broader regional economy . The community is urged to keep the affected families and the active rescue and relief teams in their thoughts and prayers as operations continue.
