By Christine Cudis / Philippine News Agency
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said Wednesday (Dec. 15) it has more than P930 million in standby funds to cover the assistance to people who will be affected by Typhoon Odette.
Of the amount, some P83 million is allotted for the purchase of additional supplies for disaster operations, while more than 350,000 family food packs (FFPs) are readily available for immediate distribution to families that may be affected by the weather disturbance.
It also assured technical assistance and resource augmentation to the residents that may be hit by Odette.
“Quick Response Teams (QRTs) in Regions 5 (Bicol), 7 (Central Visayas), and 8 (Eastern Visayas) are now on standby,” the DSWD’s Department’s Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) said in a statement on Wednesday.
The DSWD 6 (Western Visayas) has initially pre-positioned more than 3,000 food packs in Bago City, Negros Occidental; more than 1,000 in Dumarao, Capiz; and more than 2,000 in Banga, Aklan.
In the Bicol region, the DSWD has more than 27,000 FFPs ready in their warehouses and standby funds of more than P5 million that could be used for their disaster response operations.
Meanwhile, the department is activating its communication lines with local government units, which are the first responders during natural and man-made calamities, based on Republic Act No. 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010.
The DSWD also urged the public to stay alert and heed the warnings of their local executives to prevent any untoward incidents.
In its latest update, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Odette has further intensified while moving west-northwestward over the Philippine Sea.
Odette was estimated at 485 km. east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur with maximum sustained winds of 130 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 160 kph, it added.
Tropical cyclone wind signal No. 2 has been hoisted in many parts of the Visayas and Mindanao as Odette is expected to make landfall on Thursday afternoon or evening. (PNA) – jlo
