Davao: The Department of Social Welfare and Development-Davao (DSWD-11) has allocated PHP153 million in funds and stockpiles as Tropical Depression (TD) Basyang threatens the Davao Region. Lennon Remotigue, an officer of DSWD-11's Disaster Response Management Division (DRMD), said during an online press briefing Wednesday that interventions are ready for possibly affected areas in Davao del Norte, Davao de Oro, and Davao Oriental.
According to Philippines News Agency, allocations include a PHP3-million standby fund, PHP77.4 million worth of family food packs (FFPs), and PHP72.6 million in other food and non-food items (NFIs). 'The PHP3 million will be utilized for the mobilization of the mobile kitchen and the handling and hauling of welfare goods,' Remotigue said. Available stockpiles include 91,807 FFPs and 26,259 NFIs, such as hygiene, family, sleeping, and kitchen kits, along with modular tents.
Remotigue added that four quick response teams (QRTs) comprising 274 personnel are ready for deployment across different provinces. DRMD personnel are also monitoring strategically prepositioned relief items in disaster-prone locations. 'We also conducted real-time monitoring of weather updates and information in coordination with government agencies responsible for preparing weather forecasts,' Remotigue said. Coordination continues with the Office of Civil Defense-11 and the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC) 11.
In its 5 p.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration reported that the low-pressure area developed into a tropical depression located 1,075 kilometers east of northeastern Mindanao. It packs maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph. Consequently, the OCD-DRRMC 11 Emergency Operation Center maintained its Red Alert Status effective 8 a.m. Wednesday to intensify monitoring and response operations.
