DSWD says ready with food packs, shelters for Hagupit

The Department of Social Welfare and Development on Wednesday assured those in the path of Typhoon Hagupit that the government is prepared to respond.

 

“Ang DSWD ay may 100,000 na family food packs sa aming national resource center. Lahat din ng regional offices, meron silang minimum na 25,000 na family food packages,” DSWD Assistant Secretary Vilma B. Cabrera said in a press conference.

 

Since Hagupit is expected to travel the same path as super typhoon Yolanda did, Cabrera also said the agency is ready for evacuation of those living in critical areas.

 

“Para sa ating mga kababayan sa mga probinsya at Yolanda corridor, specific for Tacloban, na may mga nakatira sa tabing dagat, nagkaroon na po ng paghahanda para mailikas ang 62 families mula sa Brgy. 88,” Cabrera said.

 

To protect them from storm surges, they will be moved to shelters that were completed after Yolanda devastated the city, she added.

 

“Pwede na silang ilipat sa mga handa na na shelters, ito ay para sa paghanda na kung sakaling magkaroon ng storm surge kapag lumakas si Hagupit, hindi na po magiging kaawa-awa ang kanilang kalagayan,” she said. 

 

Cabrera also said that the department has taken precautions to protect their own files in the regional offices, to prevent operational delays.

 

“Amin naman pong tinitignan ngayon na yung aming mga staff files ay hindi na matangay sakaling magkaroon ng storm surge, bahagi yan ng guidelines na tintignan namin,” she said.

 

Coordination system

 

Cabrera explained that the DSWD has developed a system of coordination between and among regional offices, particularly those in the path of the typhoon. 

 

“Yung ating mga regional offices, meron kaming tinatawag na sisterhood o brotherhood among regional offices, yung mga rehiyon na hindi makaka-experience ng hagupit ni Hagupit, sila ay handang tumulong para magpadala ng personnel o kagamitan at food stockpiles from other regions to those in affected areas,” she said. 

 

“Ito ay talagang mekanismong ginagawa namin para magkaroon ng tulungan,” she added.

 

Weather bureau PAGASA  earlier said that Hagupit is on track to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Thursday, at which point it will be given the local storm designation, "Ruby." The typhoon is expected to make landfall in Eastern Visayas on Saturday.

 

Forecasts indicate that Hagupit will move at 160 kph winds with gustiness of up to 190 kph. It is also expected to bring moderate to heavy rain of up to 20 mm per hour, so residents are warned to prepare for possible flash floods and landslides. — Patricia Denise Chiu/JST, GMA News