DSWD prepositioning relief goods as tropical cyclones expected in coming days

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Friday said relief goods are being prepositioned in local government units as two tropical cyclones are expected to enter the country in the coming days.

Interviewed on Dobol B TV, DSWD Secretary Erwin Tulfo said as early as Monday he already directed their regional directors to deliver the relief items in cities and towns.

“Lunes pa lang po nagbigay na ako ng kautusan na i-preposition po ang relief goods, food packs, at relief items natin tulad ng hygiene kits, sleeping kits, pati mga tuyong damit po na pinack na po namin,” he said.

(As early as Monday, I already ordered the prepositioning of our relief goods, food packs, and relief items like hygiene kits, sleeping kits, as well as dry clothes that we already packed.)

“Inutusan na po natin ang ating mga regional directors na ibaba na po sa mga bayan-bayan (I ordered our regional directors to download these relief items to cities and towns),” he added.

On Thursday, state weather bureau PAGASA said two tropical cyclones could enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) in the coming days.

PAGASA Administrator Undersecretary Vicente Malano said these two tropical cyclones would have similar characteristics as Caloy and Domeng.

"Ang characteristics po nitong dalawang bagyo na nakikita po natin ay kamukha po ng nakaraang dalawang bagyo na pumasok dito sa Philippine area of responsibility itong si Caloy at Domeng na si Domeng papuntang Norte at 'yung isa namin nanggaling sa West Philippine Sea at pumunta po siya ng China area," he added.

(The characteristics of these two tropical cyclones are similar to weather disturbances Caloy and Domeng, which entered PAR recently. Domeng headed towards the northern part of the country while the other one traversed the direction going to China.)

Tulfo said the DSWD has been providing assistance to the areas affected by the recent inclement weather in Ifugao, Cebu, and Negros.

Meanwhile, Tulfo ensured that the DSWD would not allow relief items to expire. He said they will only preposition more relief items during wet season and less during dry season.

According to him, DSWD will implement a “first in, first out system” in relief distribution to avoid expiration of goods.—AOL, GMA News