Manila: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) continues to deliver relief assistance to affected communities across Visayas and Mindanao following the onslaught of Typhoon Tino.

According to Philippines News Agency, the total humanitarian assistance released by the agency has so far reached over PHP69.45 million. In an interview on Wednesday, Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the DSWD’s Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) highlighted the agency’s preparedness for calamities, underscoring the implementation of the Buong Bansa Handa (BBH) program. Through this program, the DSWD has efficiently distributed over 123,000 family food packs (FFPs) to those impacted.

Dumlao also noted that non-food items and ready-to-eat food (RTEF) boxes have been provided to families residing in evacuation centers. Additionally, a mobile kitchen set up at Matnog Port in Sorsogon has been instrumental in offering hot meals to stranded individuals, alleviating the difficulties faced by affected commuters.

The DSWD expressed condolences to the families who lost loved ones due to the typhoon. While the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) continues to validate the official death toll, the DSWD assured that burial assistance will be extended to grieving families. Efforts by field offices to reach out and distribute aid to these families are ongoing.

As relief operations for Typhoon Tino persist, the DSWD is also keeping a close watch on an approaching tropical cyclone, which may develop into a super typhoon as it enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) over the weekend. Dumlao emphasized the agency’s collaboration with local government units to ensure readiness for the impending storm.

The DSWD currently maintains over PHP2.87 billion in standby funds and stockpiles of food and non-food items across its field offices nationwide, ready to address future emergencies.