India, June 9 -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has already provided PHP549,000 worth of assistance to families affected by the effects of the low-pressure area and the southwest monsoon or "habagat," an agency official said on Monday.

During Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing, Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said the assistance, in the form of family food packs (FFPs) and other non-food items, was distributed to families in Bulacan in Central Luzon, and Zamboanga City in Region 9 - the two areas greatly-affected by the LPA and "habagat".

She said this is in line with the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to ensure the swift and efficient distribution of assistance to disaster-affected areas.

"Paun...