DSWD delivers P22M worth of food, non-food items amid COVID-19 crisis

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has distributed more than P22 million worth of food and non-food items to over 4,000 beneficiaries amid the country's ongoing battle against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

According to the first weekly report of President Rodrigo Duterte on the act performed under the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act, the DWSD is currently implementing Food and Non-Food Items Distribution as part of a joint memorandum circular on an expanded and enhanced Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

The report said that "the total number of clients served from 13 March to 29 March 2020 is at 4,753, in which the total cost amounts at P22,315,982.38."

The DSWD is currently making augmentations in the food and non-food items, the report said. In particular, 69,200 family food packs have been procured by the department to benefit at least 69,200 families or 346,000 individuals for two to three days.

Meanwhile, 15 family tents, 577,830 face masks and 10,000 sando bags for rice repacking have likewise been procured, and 16,000 family food packs have been produced to replenish the current stock, the report added.

A total of 159 volunteers from the Philippine Coast Guard have been deployed from March 26 to 28 to distribute the food and non-food items.

Apart from food and non-food items, the DSWD is also currently implementing the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS), the report said.

Recipients of this assistance as of March 23 include residents from Quezon City, Manila, Rizal, San Juan, Taguig City, Caloocan City, Cavite City, and Bulacan, among others.

At the same time, the requests of various groups such as BANDA, GRAB, TNVS, ANGKAS, JOYRIDE, SNMNO, and TODA are likewise being facilitated already subject to the submission of requirements.

Field offices of the DSWD have likewise reported the acts performed pursuant to the Bayanihan Law.

The field office in the National Capital Region, for instance, has coordinated with the 17 local government units in Metro Manila for the initial wave of food augmentation for stockpiling, and has delivered a total of 67,150 food packs to the 17 LGUs amounting to more than P26 million.

In Region III, meanwhile, a total of 10,538 food packs have been provided to 13 affected LGUs, amounting to P4.5 million, while cash assistance has also been distributed to at least 54 stranded passengers at the Clark International Airport and 18 clients in Angeles City and Porac in Pampanga due to the transportation suspension there.

In Region Vl, a total of 436 clients have benefitted from the AICS amounting to P4.4 million, while 963 others have received food packs, and 144 have received non-food items.

In Region IX, there are still 31,579 available food packs amounting to around P11 million, raw materials amounting to P7 million, and food and non-food items amounting to more than P13 million.

"For standby funds and welfare goods, there is a total of P941,450.00 available Disaster Calamity Funds as of 26 March 2020, with pending voucher for the procurement of raw materials amounting to P10,678,990," the report said.

Section 4(cc) of the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act authorizes the President to implement an expanded and enhanced Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program, responsive to the needs of those affected by the enhanced community quarantine. -MDM, GMA News