As ‘Ambo’ has intensified into a typhoon, all disaster teams of the Field Offices (FOs) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) along the path of the cyclone are now on alert status ready to provide technical assistance and resource augmentation to local government units (LGUs) that will be affected.
Concerned FOs have already started their coordination with LGUs for deployment and augmentation of resources to ensure that there will be sufficient provision of goods in areas along the typhoon’s track.
As of the 6PM May 13 report of the Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center (DROMIC), DSWD maintains stockpiles and standby funds amounting to P1,186,727,653.99.
Of the amount, the Department has a total of P242,578,175.96 standby funds; 413,339 family food packs (FFPs) amounting to P184,141,596.92; other food items amounting to P271,434,253.46; and non-food items (FNIs) amounting to P488,573,627.65 which can be used for disaster response.
The Department urged the public to remain vigilant for the possible impacts of the typhoon. Residents are also advised to heed all the warnings of their respective LGUs for possible evacuation and other safety measures.
Based on Republic Act (RA) 10121 or the Philippines Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, LGUs are the first responders in the occurrence of natural and man-made disasters. In addition, RA 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991 stipulates that LGUs have the responsibility to undertake rescue operations, provide immediate relief assistance, and set-up and manage evacuation centers.
DSWD, in turn, is mandated to provide augmentation support to the LGUs and capacitate them to handle emergencies or calamities.
