A total of 230 locally stranded individuals (LSIs) at Tabaco Port in Albay received ready-to-eat food boxes from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) – Bicol after sea travel was temporarily suspended in the region on Sunday due to the effects of Tropical Depression Luis.
As of posting time, sea travel operations have resumed after weather conditions improved.
In an interview on Monday, DSWD-Bicol Disaster Response and Management Division chief Claudio Villarea said the agency has sufficient resources to respond to emergencies across the region.
“As of Aug. 3, we have 21,465 ready-to-eat food boxes stockpiled in different warehouses in the region,” he said.
Villareal said the agency are still on heightened alert as the region faces multiple hazards.
“Currently, DSWD-Bicol is on high alert because Mayon and Bulusan Volcanoes remain under alert status, while we are also preparing for possible weather disturbances,” he said.
Villareal said DSWD-Bicol has stockpiles and standby funds amounting to PHP279.51 million, including PHP3 million in standby funds for immediate disaster response.
Available relief supplies include 361,305 family food packs, 8,143 bottled water units, 5,833 family clothing kits, 1,136 sleeping kits, 3,976 hygiene kits, 1,701 kitchen kits, and 47,075 other non-food items.
The Philippine Coast Guard already lifted the suspension of sea travel in Camarines Norte on Monday after the Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal was lifted. (PNA)
