Manila: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has distributed 10,956 boxes of family food packs (FFPs) to aid families and individuals impacted by Tropical Depression Mirasol, Super Typhoon Nando (Ragasa), and the southwest monsoon, locally known as ‘habagat’.
According to Philippines News Agency, Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the DSWD Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) stated that the relief supplies were dispatched to disaster-stricken areas in Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, and the Cordillera Administrative Region. Dumlao emphasized the department’s preparedness, noting that the DSWD is working diligently to meet all local government units’ requests for additional resources to assist their affected constituents.
The weather disturbances have affected a total of 54,010 families or 191,860 individuals as per the 6 a.m. report from the Disaster Response Operations Management Information and Communication. The impacted individuals hail from 950 barangays across the National Capital Region, Cordillera, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, and Zamboanga Peninsula.
Currently, 8,082 families or 24,499 individuals are taking temporary refuge in 508 evacuation centers throughout the affected regions, while 3,568 families or 11,505 persons are staying with relatives or friends.
The DSWD has maintained over 2.5 million FFPs in nearly 1,000 warehouses nationwide. In the affected regions alone, a total of 1,102,493 boxes of FFPs have been prepositioned and are ready for urgent disaster response operations. Dumlao highlighted the importance of prompt and sufficient government assistance during such calamities, reiterating President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to ensure that people are not concerned about food during crises.
In addition to FFPs, the DSWD has allocated over 800 million worth of non-food items to support internally displaced persons. These items include blankets, modular tents, and family, kitchen, and hygiene kits.
Dumlao also noted that DSWD disaster response teams are actively working in the affected field offices, even in areas where government work is suspended. As the lead in the Camp Coordination and Camp Management Cluster of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the DSWD ensures that evacuation centers are safe, comfortable, and equipped to meet the needs of evacuees.
