Manila: In line with the efforts to ensure that no disaster-affected family will go hungry under the Marcos Administration, the Department of Social Welfare and Development's (DSWD) National Resource and Logistics Management Bureau (NRLMB) has achieved another milestone by producing 3.3 million family food packs (FFPs) as of Saturday.
According to Philippines News Agency, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian congratulated the NLRMB on the production milestone and directed Assistant Secretary Leo Quintilla, NLRMB Officer-in-Charge, to work towards reaching the 4-million mark at the earliest possible time. Quintilla emphasized the department's commitment to enhancing production capacity to ensure sufficient goods are prepositioned across all hubs and warehouses as part of the Buong Bansa Handa (BBH) program.
The senior official of the DSWD's Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) elaborated on the BBH's two parallel supply chains for disaster preparedness. The initiative involves a government-led supply chain at both national and local levels, allowing quick deployment of goods through local government partnerships. Additionally, a private sector-driven supply chain engages private partners through framework agreements to leverage their resources.
Through mechanized production systems at the Luzon and Visayas Disaster Resource Centers, the DSWD can produce between 18,000 and 20,000 FFPs daily. This capacity ensures readiness to replenish stocks and deploy relief goods promptly, even in the absence of disasters. The production process includes a barcoding system for tracking expiration dates and deliveries, supported by an inventory management system.
Quintilla also mentioned plans to establish a Mindanao Disaster Resource Center in Butuan City by 2026, with an initial budget of PHP500 million allocated in the approved DSWD budget for the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA). Furthermore, the DSWD aims to implement iron-fortified rice production to enhance the nutritional value of rice in relief operations, addressing iron deficiency anemia and supporting food security.
The NRLMB recently conducted a workshop with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) - Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) and the National Food Authority to discuss the technical use of DOST-FNRI's specialized blending technology.
