The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Caraga (OCD-13) dispatched 1,500 boxes of hygiene kits on Sunday to assist Bicol residents affected by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name Trami).

A Philippine Air Force C-130 aircraft airlifted the relief items Sunday afternoon, the OCD-13 said in a statement Monday.

“The relief augmentation supports the ongoing Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response efforts of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council and the OCD under the leadership of Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and Civil Defense Administrator Usec. Ariel Nepomuceno,” the agency said.

In Caraga, the storm affected over 15,000 families and damaged 39 houses in 143 barangays in Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, and Surigao del Sur.

As of Sunday, a total of 14,369 affected families were already provided with assistance worth PHP8.4 million. (PNA)