By Stephanie Sevillano | Philippine News Agency
National government agencies assured Thursday that more supplies of family food packs (FFPs), clean drinking water, and relief goods are set to arrive in Northern Luzon as Super Typhoon Leon (international name: Kong-Rey) continued to drench most of the region.
During the PTV’s Special Report, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Undersecretary Diana Rose Cajipe said they would deliver the supply augmentation once the weather improves.
“The moment na ibaba ang gale warning at makalipad na po tayo, definitely mag-start na po tayong magdagdag ng family food packs sa Batanes,” she said.
Cajipe noted that a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel carrying at least 5,500 FFPs was on its way to Batanes but has been stranded in Pangasinan.
She said additional supplies could reach Batanes via a C-130 plane in collaboration with the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), alongside the Philippine Navy and PCG’s simultaneous relief operations.
Cajipe, meanwhile, said Batanes still has 2,000 FFPs left of the 14,000 pre-positioned in the island province before the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami).
“What’s good about pre-positioning is it gives us time to replace iyong mga naka-preposition. Each family food pack is good for a family of five, and it can last two to three days. Once mag-clear, we have time to replenish and preposition again,” she said.
Each family food pack contains 6 kg of rice, four cans of tuna, four cans of corned beef, two cans of sardines, five sachets of instant coffee, and five sachets of cereal.
Batanes Gov. Marilou Cayco, likewise, called on airlifting assistance from the national government to expedite the replenishment of necessities.
“Sunud-sunod po kasi iyong bagyo na dumadating sa amin kaya wala hong nakakarating na barko. Siguro ho, kapag gumanda ang panahon, darating ho dito iyan,” she said.
She also called for help to restore both power and communication lines in Batanes.
For the situation on the ground, she said nurses and social welfare staff are assisting affected residents in evacuation centers, with enough food supplies to last up to three more days.
At present, she said, more than 400 affected families or 1,438 individuals are either staying in evacuation centers or with their relatives.
Agri interventions, food prices
The Department of Agriculture (D.A.), meanwhile, assured adequate intervention and mechanisms to aid farmers and ensure stable food prices for consumers.
D.A. Director for Field Operations Service Lorna Calda cited the P1 billion quick response fund (QRF) that could be used for quick recovery and rehabilitation efforts.
Other interventions are the distribution of P541.02 million worth of agricultural inputs including rice, corn, vegetable seedlings, and drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry; the availability of at least P500 million loanable fund under the Survival and Recovery (SURE) loan program, which can provide up to P25,000 loanable amount per farmer, payable in three years with no interest; and an indemnification fund.
On rice relief supply, Calda said there are adequate stocks at the National Food Authority, with about 1,447 bags already distributed to Ilocos and Bicol.
Meanwhile, Calda reported the deployment of Kadiwa trucks to affected areas to ensure accessibility to affordable food.
A price freeze was also imposed in areas placed under a State of Calamity, she said.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), meanwhile, reported that the country will begin to experience improved weather conditions as soon as Friday when Leon exits the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
Leon was last seen 110 km north-northeast of Itbayat, Batanes with maximum sustained winds of 195 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 240 kph.
It is expected to exit the PAR on Friday morning as it heads toward Taiwan.
