The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Bicol (DSWD-5) has prepared family food packs and non-food items for the six provinces as part of its disaster preparedness response to the possible effects of La Niña and other weather disturbances.

In an interview on Thursday, Carl James Cabarles, DSWD disaster risk reduction management division information officer, said a total of PHP196.6 million worth of food packs and non-food items have been prepositioned in different cities and towns in the region.

“Since the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) is now on La Niña monitoring, we must also prepare here since the Bicol Region is prone to typhoons and other calamities. We need to ensure that there are available food and non-food items for the public in times of need,” he said.

Cabarles said the initiative is aligned with the Marcos administration’s Buong Bansa Handa Project to provide a more effective public response during times of disaster.

“Prepositioning the goods will enable faster and more efficient delivery of assistance to affected families, compared to transporting the goods from the regional office to LGUs (local government units) and then to affected areas. The assistance will surely arrive in time. People will not be hungry,” he said.

Cabarles added that they are identifying more LGUs to sign a memorandum of agreement with them to allow stockpiling of goods.

“The more probable sites, the easier for goods to be dispatched. The easier it is for the aid to arrive,” he added.

Cabarles said as directed by Regional Director Norman Laurio, they are monitoring river basins and flood-prone areas when it rains during the day.

“We are also coordinating with other agencies so that we can get to know what is happening and if we need to intervene in DSWD for assistance,” he added.

At least 41 LGUs in Bicol have allowed the prepositioning of food packs and non-food items in addition to the agency’s seven regional warehouses in different provinces.

DSWD-Bicol has stockpiled 142,205 family food packs and 37,805 non-food relief items.

A standby fund of PHP338,500 is also ready to purchase additional food packs or any necessary kits as required. (PNA)