The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Ilocos regional office and the Department of Health Center for Health Development in the Ilocos Region (DOH-CHD-1) have distributed family food packs and medical supplies to the areas affected by Severe Tropical Storm Florita.
DOH-CHD-1 has sent out medical supplies to the province of Ilocos Norte to augment the existing stock of medicines and emergency provisions such as first aid, hygiene and “kalinga” kits, and can water containers, DOH-CHD-1 media relations officer Glen Ramos said in a statement Tuesday.
Some PHP150,000 worth of medicines and supplies were delivered last week to be distributed by the provincial office to families affected by the typhoon, he added.
“We have also provided medical assistance in the provinces of Ilocos Sur, Pangasinan, and La Union, aside from the prepositioned drugs and supplies at the provincial DOH offices. The public hospitals are also ready to give additional medical assistance if the need arises. We are always in close coordination with the local government units and district hospitals through our health emergency response unit to provide health assistance and medical services,” DOH-CHD-1 regional head Paula Paz Sydiongco said.
The DSWD has distributed 2,913 family food packs and 373 non-food items to families in Batac City and Pinili, Ilocos Norte; Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, and Dagupan City, Pangasinan as of August 30.
Most of the family food packs were given to Dagupan City residents who were affected by the flooding.
The DSWD said in a statement there are 22,064 stockpile family food packs in its satellite warehouses in the four provinces.
There are also 11,664 non-food items prepositioned as of August 30. These include 1,777 family kits, 2,354 hygiene kits, 1,914 kitchen kits, 3,046 sleeping kits, 707 laminated sacks, 503 family tents, and 1,436 modular tents.
The DSWD added a PHP14.3 million quick response fund is also on standby.
“Florita” devastated Northern Luzon, including Ilocos Region, on August 24. (PNA)
