By Zaldy De Layola | Philippine News Agency
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Monday, May 22, directed different Field Offices (FOs) to preposition additional family food packs (FFPs) and other relief supplies to areas along the expected path of the approaching weather disturbance.
According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Tropical Storm Mawar is currently outside of the Philippine Area of Responsibility but may likely develop into a super typhoon once it enters the country.
In a news release, the DSWD said the field office in the Cordillera Administrative Region prepositioned 4,401 FFPs in the province of Abra, 5,300 in Kalinga and 6,654 in Apayao.
In Ilocos Region, the DSWD field office has already inspected the regional and satellite warehouses to ensure the stockpiling of FFPs is done.
Even though the projected affected areas are in extreme Northern Luzon, DSWD FO Western Visayas also conducted a pre-disaster risk assessment meeting to prepare for any unexpected eventuality.
“As part of its regular disaster response efforts, the DSWD has already prepositioned FFPs in strategic locations in all regions,” said DSWD spokesperson and Assistant Secretary Romel Lopez, adding that a total of 797,051 FFPs worth P565.78 million have been stored at the different regional offices.
There are also 110,667 FFPs available in Disaster Response Centers, including 101,525 FFPS at the National Resource Operations Center in Pasay.
Lopez said the DSWD has P579.89 million Quick Response Fund at the Central Office and P69.77 million at the DSWD field offices.
“The DSWD’s National Resource and Logistics Management Bureau is also coordinating with the Field Offices for augmentation of food and non-food items,” Lopez said. – gb