Zamboanga City (December 4) -- Mayor Celso Lobregat recently tasked the City Social Welfare and Development Office and other concerned agencies to accurately evaluate the damage wrought by the storm surge that hit coastal and some island barangays Tuesday last week.

At the same time, Lobregat reiterated his appeal for donations from private groups and concerned individuals for the over 3,000 families affected by the calamity.

He said relief assistance to calamity victims will continue for as long as city government resources would permit. Several good Samaritans have responded to the earlier call for support issued by the mayor.

According to Lobregat, personnel from the City Social Welfare Office under Francisco Barredo including the City Engineer's Office, City Agriculturist Office and Land Housing and Management Division under the mayor's office are continuously assessing and evaluating the effects of the storm surge.

Based on Barredo's records, 3,373 families from 15 coastal barangays have been displaced as of December 2. Of the total number, 651 families are still housed in evacuation centers as of Sunday.

Records also show that a total of 1,423 houses were totally damaged while 1,353 were partially ruined.

Mayor Lobregat said the city government is doing everything possible to provide relief assistance to all the victims. Financial assistance will come after Barredo's office shall have made the final assessment.

The initial calamity funds released were used for the purchase of relief goods such as rice, noodles, sardines and other foodstuffs.