SAN JOSE, OCCIDENTAL MINDORO — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has activated its Quick Response Team (QRT) in Occidental Mindoro as heavy rains and flooding linked to the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat continue to affect parts of the province.
The move signals a stepped-up government response as authorities assess communities affected by persistent rains, particularly areas vulnerable to flooding and coastal hazards.
The DSWD MIMAROPA QRT met with officials of the Occidental Mindoro provincial government on August 18 to identify affected communities and families requiring immediate assistance.
The team also conducted validation and monitoring operations at evacuation centers, with particular attention to coastal and flood-prone areas, to determine whether displaced residents are receiving the assistance and basic necessities they need.
Relief supplies already delivered
As part of the initial response, DSWD delivered 122 Family Food Packs (FFPs), 12 hygiene kits and 12 kitchen kits on August 18 for distribution to affected families and individuals in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro.
The deployment comes as PAGASA continues to identify Occidental Mindoro among areas affected by monsoon rains, warning that heavy to intense rainfall may trigger flash floods and landslides, particularly in vulnerable locations.
PAGASA’s August 19 weather information also indicated that thunderstorms were more likely to develop over Occidental Mindoro within a 12-hour period, underscoring the need for residents in vulnerable areas to continue monitoring official weather and disaster advisories.
Response intensified as weather threat persists
The DSWD’s Quick Response Team is specifically designed to provide rapid disaster-relief and humanitarian support and to augment the capabilities of affected field offices and local government units following natural or human-induced disasters.
The agency has also continued using QRT deployments in other disaster-affected areas this year, including regions hit by severe weather and other emergencies.
The current response in Occidental Mindoro is being carried out in coordination with local government units and other concerned agencies as authorities work to assess conditions and deliver assistance where it is most urgently needed.
The situation remains fluid. With Habagat continuing to influence weather conditions over western Luzon, residents in flood- and landslide-prone communities are urged to stay alert, follow instructions from local disaster officials, and monitor updates from PAGASA and local authorities.
What happens next could depend on how long the rains persist—and whether more communities in Occidental Mindoro are forced to evacuate.
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