Legazpi, July 31 -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 5 (Bicol) has extended more than PHP40 million in assistance to families affected by weather disturbances.

Claudio Villareal, chief of DSWD-5's Disaster Response Management Division, said the assistance is part of the ongoing response to the combined effects of the southwest monsoon and tropical cyclones Crising, Dante, and Emong, as of Wednesday.

He said DSWD-5 has more than PHP226 million in standby funds and has prepositioned relief resources, including 185,889 family food packs (FFPs) and 26,786 non-food items, ready for immediate deployment.

A total of 176,972 families, or 747,244 individuals, across the six provinces of the Bicol Region have been affected...