Manila, June 2 -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has provided PHP1.21 million worth of assistance to individuals displaced by the limited access to the San Juanico Bridge during the first two weeks of the crisis.

As of the end of May, the DSWD in Eastern Visayas has provided 1,874 family food packs, 401 bottles of 6.6 liters of purified water, and financial assistance to affected individuals stranded in Basey, Calbayog City, and Sta. Rita in Samar and Tacloban City and Ormoc City in Leyte.

"The agency's quick response team remains activated to ensure continuous coordination with affected local government units and to facilitate timely resource augmentation in the impacted areas," the DSWD said in a statement on ...