The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has so far released 10,956 boxes of family food packs (FFPs) to support families and individuals affected by the combined impacts of Tropical Depression Mirasol, Super Typhoon Nando (Ragasa), and the southwest monsoon (habagat).
Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the DSWD Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) said the relief resources were delivered to various disaster-stricken areas in Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, and Cordillera Administrative Region.
“The tally of our released goods is expected to soar any moment, with the DSWD working double time to accommodate all LGUs’ (local government units) requests for additional resources to cover the needs of their disaster-hit constituents. However, handa tayo para rito (we are ready for this). We made sure that ahead of these disasters, we had more than enough stockpiles readied across the country,” Dumlao, also the DSWD spokesperson, said.
A total of 54,010 families or 191,860 individuals have been affected by the weather disturbances based on the 6 a.m. report of the Disaster Response Operations Management Information and Communication.
The affected individuals come from 950 barangays in the National Capital Region, Cordillera, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Central Visayas and Zamboanga Peninsula.
There are 8,082 families or 24,499 individuals currently taking temporary shelter in 508 evacuation centers across the affected areas, while 3,568 families or 11,505 persons are temporarily staying with their relatives or friends.
The DSWD currently maintains more than 2.5 million FFPs in close to 1,000 warehouses nationwide. In the affected regions alone, a total of 1,102,493 boxes of FFPs have been prepositioned and are ready to be tapped for urgent disaster response operations.
“Importante kasi sa hanay ng gobyerno na sapat at mabilis ‘yung pagbibigay ng tulong sa mga kababayan natin. Hindi na dapat nila pino-problema kung anong kakainin sa gitna ng sakuna, na palaging bilin ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. sa DSWD (It is important for government to ensure ample supplies, and prompt distribution of assistance to our countrymen. As President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. always reminds, people should not worry about food in times of calamities),” Dumlao said.
Aside from FFPs, there are over 800 million worth of non-food items to support the needs of internally displaced persons, such as blankets, modular tents, and family, kitchen and hygiene kits, among others.
“DSWD’s disaster frontliners across concerned Field Offices are on the ground, even in areas where government work is suspended. As the head in the Camp Coordination and Camp Management Cluster ng (of the) National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, binababa rin natin ‘yung mga evacuation center para matiyak na safe, komportable, at naibibigay ‘yung pangangailangan ng mga evacuees natin (our personnel also go to the evacuation centers to ensure that evacuees are comfortable and provided with their needs),” she said. (PNA)
