The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Bicol has augmented relief operations in Central Luzon by providing an additional 100,000 family food packs (FFPs) to communities affected by ongoing weather disturbances.

In a Friday phone interview, Claudio Villareal, head of the DSWD Bicol Disaster Response and Management Division (DRMD), said the 100,000 FFPs were transported in batches from Sept. 8 to 10 and are expected to reach DSWD Central Luzon between Sept. 9 and 11.

“The latest assistance brings to 150,000 the total number of FFPs provided by DSWD Bicol to Field Office III, following the earlier delivery of 50,000 food packs,” he said.

Villareal said the 100,000 FFPs were intended for 100,000 families from the provinces of Tarlac and Pampanga.

The World Food Program (WFP) provided logistical support, enabling the mobilization and rental of 47 trucks to transport relief supplies from the DSWD Bicol warehouses to Central Luzon.

The FFPs were sourced from the DRMD warehouses in Baybay, Pili, and Malabog, enabling the field office to mobilize its available relief resources for areas needing additional assistance.

“The assistance also complements augmentation efforts by other DSWD field offices as the department coordinates the movement of relief resources based on the needs of disaster-affected communities,” he said.

Through the DRMD, the Regional Resource Operations Section has stockpiles and standby funds amounting to PHP303.1 million.

The available relief supplies include 92,031 FFPs, 8,131 bottles of water, 16,604 ready-to-eat food items, 2,804 family clothing kits, 1,107 sleeping kits, 11,280 hygiene kits, 1,670 kitchen kits, and 71,704 other non-food items.

“These resources are strategically prepositioned in designated warehouses and readily available for immediate augmentation and distribution in support of disaster response operations across the Bicol Region,” he added. (PNA)