Manila: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has distributed a total of 1,855,134 family food packs (FFPs) as augmentation support to local government units (LGUs) hit by Typhoons Uwan (international name Fung-wong) and Tino (international name Kalmaegi), an official said Wednesday.

According to Philippines News Agency, Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) stated that the continuous delivery of food packs to typhoon-affected LGUs aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive for DSWD to enhance its disaster response capability under the Buong Bansa Handa (BBH) program.

The DSWD spokesperson emphasized the department’s commitment to ensuring the prompt and continuous flow of assistance to areas impacted by the typhoons. The DSWD aims to support families in their recovery while maintaining necessary relief efforts.

In addition to the FFPs, the DSWD’s Field Offices in the regions have distributed 24,455 boxes of ready-to-eat food (RTEF) to provinces severely affected by the typhoons. These relief items were delivered to LGUs across multiple regions, including Regions 1 to 13, the National Capital Region (NCR), the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Dumlao highlighted the DSWD’s ongoing coordination with local governments to reinforce preventive measures and ensure readiness for future weather disturbances. She also expressed gratitude to the employees and volunteers assisting in repacking efforts at disaster resource centers.

To further support affected families, the DSWD has deployed mobile kitchens to provide hot meals, ensuring those in evacuation centers do not suffer from food pack-fatigue. The department is also extending financial aid, non-food relief items, and psychosocial services as part of the recovery process.

According to Dumlao, emergency cash transfers (ECT) have been initiated as part of the DSWD’s early recovery assistance efforts.