Marcos wants continued procurement of relief goods

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Wednesday reminded the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to continue the procurement for relief goods in anticipation of the typhoons that may hit the country in the next few months. 

''I think we’re alright in terms of supply of our relief goods that we can give... But we must continue the procurement because there is a very good chance that this is not going to be the last for this month. So, we have to prepare for that,'' Marcos said during the situational briefing as regards the impact of Severe Tropical Storm Enteng. 

The President said the government should also think of what is coming in the future so that agencies are ''not caught shorthanded when the time comes that we have to provide the relief and assistance.''

For his part, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian said they will comply with the President's order.

Gatchalian said the DSWD also has to monitor the two looming storms for stockpiling needs. He told Marcos that before Enteng hit the country, the agency restored its national stockpile to 1.7 million family food packs.

According to PAGASA Deputy Administrator for Research and Development Marcelino Villafuerte II, two to three typhoons are seen to hit the country this month.

In October, two to three typhoons are also expected, Villafuerte said. He added that one to two typhoons could hit the country in November and in December. —VAL, GMA Integrated News