'Enough food supply for evacuees'

MANILA, Philippines - Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral said yesterday there was enough food for families displaced by the ongoing armed clashes between government troops and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Mindanao.

In a phone interview, Cabral said the government, through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), has readied some P200 million worth of relief goods for the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the region.

“The DSWD continues to provide food assistance to IDPs,” Cabral said. “If the available amount would not be enough for our relief operations we will request for additional budget from the national calamity fund.”

Cabral said the displaced families are “fine,” adding that the DSWD’s next food distribution is scheduled on Wednesday.