DSWD field offices on heightened alert as Tino intensifies

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Sunday placed all its field offices (FOs) on heightened alert as Severe Tropical Storm Tino (international name: Kalmaegi) continued to intensify over the Philippine Sea.

The DSWD said concerned DSWD FOs are closely coordinating with local government units (LGUs) on the immediate response that will be needed by communities to be affected by Tino.

This is upon the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian.

“Sa utos ni Pangulong Marcos at ni Secretary Gatchalian, nakahanda ang DSWD na tumugon sa anumang pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan na maaapektuhan ni Bagyong Tino. Mahigpit ang koordinasyon natin sa mga LGU upang matiyak na maagap at mapagkalinga ang ating pagtugon,” said DSWD spokesperson and Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao in a statement.

(On orders of President Marcos and Secretary Gatchalian, the DSWD is ready to respond to the needs of our countrymen who might be affected by Tino. We are closely coordinating with our LGUs to ensure an immediate and humanitarian response.)

Dumlao of the DSWD’s Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) said all concerned FOs have activated their Quick Response Teams to assist the LGUs in relief operations.

The FOs have also activated their respective Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) in case there is an influx of internally displaced persons (IDPs).

Dumlao said the DSWD’s priority is to ensure that LGUs are supported with adequate resources to mitigate the severe tropical storm’s impact on residents.

“Ang ating mga Field Offices ay patuloy na nagmo-monitor ng sitwasyon sa kanilang mga nasasakupan. Kapag may request mula sa LGU, agad tayong tutugon para hindi na kailangang maghintay pa nang matagal,” she said.

(Our Field Offices are continuously monitoring the situation in their jurisdictions. If there is a request from the LGU, we will respond immediately so that they won’t have to wait for long.)

Food and non-food items (FNFIs) have been pre-positioned in strategic locations across the country that are on the storm’s projected path.

“Gaya ng lagi nating binabanggit, sapat ang relief items ng DSWD sa ating mga major hubs and last mile facilities. Mayroon tayong family food packs (FFPs), ready-to-eat food (RTEF), at mga non-food items na nakahanda para sa ating mga kababayan na maaapektuhan at mananatili sa mga evacuation centers,” Dumlao said.

(Like what we always say, the DSWD’s relief items in our major hubs and last mile facilities are sufficient. We have family food packs, ready-to-eat food, and non-food items that are ready for our countrymen who might be affected and will stay in evacuation centers.)

A total of 558,098 family food packs (FFPs) were pre-positioned across DSWD warehouses nationwide. This includes 122,884 food packs in MIMAROPA, 89,566 in Region 6 (Western Visayas), 70,799 in the Negros Island Region (NIR), 71,539 in Region 7 (Central Visayas), 121,331 in Region 8 (Eastern Visayas), and 81,989 food boxes in CARAGA.

The DSWD is also utilizing its Disaster Response Command Center (DRCC) and Mobile Command Centers (MCCs) for the real-time monitoring of affected communities.

“Magagamit ang mga MCCs ng ating FOs sa pagpapadala ng agarang update sa ating Central Office. Mayroon ding WiFi and electricity connection na maibibigay ang mga MCC para sa apektado nating kababayan,” Dumlao said.

(Our FOs can use our MCCs in sending timely updates to our Central Office. The MCCs can also provide WiFi and electricity connection to our affected countrymen.)

Dumlao also reminded Filipinos to heed advisories from authorities and LGUs especially regarding preemptive evacuations and to monitor weather updates from the state weather bureau.

In its 11 p.m. bulletin on Sunday night, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration said Severe Tropical Storm Tino continued to intensify over the Philippine Sea, moving westward at 30 km/h.

As of 10 p.m., its center was around 605 kilometers east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, with maximum sustained winds of 100 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 125 km/h, and central pressure of 985 hPa.

Tino may make its initial landfall over Eastern Samar, Leyte, or Dinagat Islands late evening on Monday or early morning Tuesday, and cross the Visayas before emerging over the West Philippine Sea on Wednesday morning. — JMA, GMA Integrated News