By Jose Cielito Reganit | Philippine News Agency
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Tuesday assured continuous relief support for families affected by the combined effects of Severe Tropical Storm Crising (international name: Wipha) and the enhanced southwest monsoon (habagat), in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
“Ang instruction ng Pangulo dapat lahat ng naapektuhan, walang magugutom kaya tuloy-tuloy ang suporta ng pagkain sa ating affected families,” Gatchalian said during a virtual press briefing held by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) on the government’s response to the effects of habagat.
Data from the DSWD showed that 490,418 families have been affected by the two weather systems, with 14,191 families staying in 500 evacuation centers nationwide.
“Since Crising, we have already released 92,590 family food packs (FFPs) to the local government units (LGUs) who have requested augmentation. And we are set to release around 40,000 additional FFPs for the remaining requests of other LGUs,” Gatchalian said.
The DSWD chief reiterated that the agency has prepositioned more than 3 million boxes of FFPs ahead of Crising and production of food packs continues at the DSWD’s main disaster hubs—the NROC and the Visayas Disaster Response Center (VDRC) in Mandaue City, Cebu.
The FFPs, as well as 337,494 non-food items like sleeping kits and hygiene packs, are prepositioned in 935 warehouses across the country.
“Hindi tayo tumitigil sa pagre-repack. Laging handa ang DSWD na magbigay ng augmentation o karagdagang tulong sa mga LGUs para sa pangangailangan ng mga affected families sa kanilang lugar,” Gatchalian said.
He also cited the innovations implemented under the Marcos administration—the ready-to-eat food (RTEF) boxes and water filtration kits.
Gatchalian assured that the DSWD is closely coordinating with the LGUs for a prompt and efficient distribution of augmentation support.
“Sa ating mga LGUs, naniniwala ako na sa pakikipagtulungan sa inyo, mas mabilis na makakarating ang mga relief packs sa lahat ng mga nangangailangan. Sa mga ganitong panahon, ang bawat buhay ay mahalaga, walang pinipili, lahat tinutulungan. At ang DSWD, handang umagapay sa mga pangangailangan ng inyong mga constituents. Magsabi lang kayo,” he said.
He also urged the public to remain vigilant and heed the advisories issued by local officials for their safety.
“Sa ating mga kababayan, importante na sumunod tayo sa ating mga lokal na pamahalaan at ina-assure kayo ng DSWD na ang inyong pamahalaang nasyonal ay nakatutok para sa inyong mga pangangailangan. Ang instruksyon ng ating Pangulo, ang utos ng ating Pangulo sa ganitong mga panahon, walang pamilyang apektado ang hindi nakakakain nang maayos, dahil bawat buhay mahalaga.”
