Tacloban: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has prepositioned 121,331 family food packs (FFPs) to boost its readiness for the impact of Typhoon Tino (international name Kalmaegi) in Eastern Visayas. DSWD Region 8 information officer Jonalyndie Chua said they have been replenishing their stocks in preparation for the effects of the typhoon. “DSWD is always ready to respond. We have been monitoring the situation and coordinating with affected local government units,” Chua told the Philippine News Agency on Monday.
According to Philippines News Agency, different provinces in Eastern Visayas are under Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 2 as of Monday noon. The stock of food supplies and non-food items will ensure the faster delivery of relief goods in case of severe flooding and other disasters, Chua said. These FFPs are stored in warehouses in the towns of Allen and Biri in Northern Samar; Jipapad, Taft, and Guiuan in Eastern Samar; the DSWD regional resource operations center (RROC) in Palo, Leyte; and Sogod, Southern Leyte. Other stockpiles are in Almagro and Santo Ni±o in Samar and Naval, Maripipi, and Kawayan in Biliran province.
Each FFP contains six kilograms of rice, four cans of corned beef, four cans of tuna flakes, two cans of sardines, five sachets of coffee, and five sachets of cereal drinks. Among the prepositioned items are ready-to-eat food packs at the DSWD RROC to ensure that food supplies are available and easily accessible in times of crisis. Aside from FFPs, the DSWD has also prepared 20,664 non-food relief items, 18,473 ready-to-eat food boxes, and 4,950 water bottles in strategic locations across the region.
DSWD Eastern Visayas also reactivated its quick response team to ensure immediate and effective assistance to affected communities. “DSWD is closely monitoring the typhoon’s movements while coordinating with local government units that may be directly affected by the storm. The agency continues to assess the situation on the ground and is prepared for any developments,” Chua said. Authorities have been issuing flood advisories for Eastern Visayas since Sunday due to the impact of the weather disturbance.
The Philippine Army (PA), meanwhile, said its major units in the Visayas, Southern Luzon, Bicol, and Metro Manila have mobilized 417 humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) teams for possible deployment to Tino-affected areas. In a statement, PA spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala said these teams are composed of 4,376 officers, enlisted personnel, Cafgu Active Auxiliaries members, and reservists.
