A Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) official said on Saturday that the agency has stringent proactive measures in place for its disaster preparedness and response operations.

“The DSWD doesn’t just send aid when there is a disaster. DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian has really ensured that the proactive approach is taken because he was also a former mayor. He knows the feeling of being a mayor waiting for help when your disaster risk reduction and management funds are not enough,” Director Maria Isabel Lanada of the DSWD’s Disaster Response Management Bureau said in a radio interview.

Lanada said the department has 938 warehouses across the country, which hold 3 million to 3.2 million stockpiles at any given time.

“That is what we are filling, the warehouses all over the country, and these family food packs (FFPs) of ours, we are ensuring, are oriented to our local government units (LGUs), and we have our relief prepositioning agreements (RPA),” she explained.

To ensure that the prepositioned goods are not used for political activities, the RPAs with concerned LGUs have clauses that prevent them from taking out or distributing stockpiles without the expressed approval of the DSWD, she said.

She also urged citizens to report cases of tampering or repacking of FFPs to the DSWD.

“If you notice anyone repackaging, selling, or paying for their political activities, report it to us at the DSWD and there will be legal action under Republic Act (RA) 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act,” the DRMB chief said.

The prohibited acts, under RA 10121, include diverting or misdelivering of relief goods, equipment, or other aid commodities to persons other than the rightful recipient or consignee; accepting, possessing, using, or disposing relief goods, equipment, or other aid commodities not intended for or consigned to him/her. (PNA)