DSWD allots P1.04B for Tropical Storm Meari relief ops

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has allotted funds of about P1.04 billion as it prepares to respond to the effects of Tropical Storm Meari, which will be named Marce once it enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

PREPOSITIONED | DSWD Relief Efforts Preaprations #MarcePH #DSWD #Katropa #DSWDPrepositioningofReliefMarcePH... https://t.co/Ih4WEhXLxh

— DWDD (@dwdd1134) November 3, 2016

As of Thursday, DSWD has prepositioned a total of P1,040,619,223.86 stockpile and standby funds to be used for Tropical Storm Meari disaster relief assistance and preparedness.

Standy funds of P266,082,742.95 have been placed at its central office and field offices.

From this amount, P220,140,809.47 have been allotted for Quick Response Fund at the central office.

The department also prepared 540,545 family food packs, equivalent to P194,894,105.40.

A fund of P579,642,375.51 has also been prepared for food and non-food items, the department said.

Human resources

Aside from relief funds, DSWD has also prepared its personnel around the country for Tropical Storm Meari relief efforts.

Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center at the central office and Disaster Response Units in 18 regions are currently on standby for data and information management.

The department also said a total of 562 Quick Response Team (QRT) members across the country are ready for mobilization.

All in all, 1,544 QRT staff members, including Social Welfare and Development Teams and Provincial/Municipal Action Teams, are on standby.

DSWD has also trained personnel for Psychosocial Support Processing, Family Evacuation Preparedness and Camp Coordination and Camp Management, Inventory and Warehouse Management, Disaster Response Communications and Information Management.

Aside from these, Rapid Emergency Telecommunications Teams, trained private volunteers and parent leaders of Pantawid Pamilya are also on standby and ready for deployment. — VVP, GMA News