PR/via Mela Lesmoras – PTV News
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is reminding the public to stay alert and vigilant for the possible effects of Tropical Storm ‘Falcon,’ after making its landfall in Gattaran, Cagayan.
Based on the 11AM bulletin issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Public Storm Warning Signal No. 2 is hoisted in the province of Batanes.
Meanwhile, Public Storm Signal No. 1 is raised in the provinces of Apayao, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, and Babuyan Group of Islands.
Residents in the aforementioned areas, especially those living in areas identified to be at risk of flooding and landslides, are advised to take precautionary measures, coordinate with local disaster risk reduction and management offices, and continue monitoring for updates, especially the advisories that will be issued by PAGASA Regional Services Divisions.
Fisherfolks and those with small seacrafts are advised not to venture out over the seaboards in the affected areas, specifically the eastern seaboards of Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
As part of its preparedness measures, DSWD is continuously monitoring the weather situation on the ground through its concerned Field Offices (FOs). DSWD FOs are closely coordinating with LGUs for the immediate provision of assistance when needed. The Department’s Quick Response Teams (QRTs) in the regions are also on standby for possible activation and deployment.
Under the Local Government Code, LGUs are the first responders before, during, and after a disaster. They are primarily responsible for disaster preparedness, mitigation, and response.
DSWD, meanwhile, augments the resources of the LGUs as needed to respond to the needs/requirements of the affected families and individuals.
The Department no longer prepositions relief goods at the LGUs. Instead, it directly distributes relief supplies to disaster-affected families, in coordination with affected LGUs, to facilitate smoother service delivery.
DSWD’s goal is to increase provision of warehouse rental to ensure adequate storage facilities for relief goods. Further, DSWD is utilizing the Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) offices, centers, and institutions, as storage facilities for prepositioned goods.
Currently, the Department maintains stockpiles and standby funds amounting to ₱1,984,745,767.19, of which, ₱1,146,974,543.16 is the available Quick Response Fund (QRF) in DSWD Central Office.
