The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Bicol (DSWD-5) has started prepositioning ready-to-eat food packs to enhance disaster preparedness and response in the region, often the first to be hit during typhoons.

Claudio Villareal, chief of DSWD-5’s Disaster Response Management Division, said the initiative supports President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s call to continuously develop innovative strategies to reduce the impact of disasters on all Filipinos.

A total of 15,400 ready-to-eat food packs have been prepositioned in the warehouse of the Provincial Government of Sorsogon and the DSWD warehouse in Camarines Sur.

“The food packs will be strategically stored in seaports and warehouses across Bicol to ensure rapid deployment during disasters or when sea travel is suspended due to severe weather. We are still waiting for confirmation from the Philippine Ports Authority regarding which ports will be available. For now, 6,400 ready-to-eat food packs are prepositioned at the PLGU Sorsogon Warehouse, while 9,000 are currently at the DSWD warehouse in Camarines Sur,” he said.

Villareal added that each ready-to-eat food pack contains nutritious meals sufficient for several days.

“This is designed to support internally displaced persons (IDPs) and stranded passengers, ensuring that no one goes hungry while sheltering in evacuation centers or waiting at transport terminals during emergencies,” he added.

The DSWD will manage the food packs, but local government units and the Philippine Ports Authority, under the Relief Prepositioning Agreements, will also manage their respective stocks as stipulated in the agreements. (PNA)