DSWD: P6.4M in initial relief aid given to Uwan victims

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has provided more than P6.4 million in initial humanitarian assistance to families affected by Typhoon Uwan.

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said the relief aid consisted of family food packs (FFPs) and non-food items (NFIs) that were prepositioned in various hubs and last-mile warehouses.

He said almost two million FFPs were prepositioned across the country prior to Uwan’s impact over the weekend.

Gatchalian added that the amount of assistance is expected to increase as the DSWD continues its distribution of relief assistance.

“Kung tatanungin tayo kung may sapat na food packs para sa ating mga kababayan, mayroon at handang-handa ang DSWD na tumulong sa ating mga local government units (LGU) para marespondehan ang mga pangangailangan ng kanilang mga mamamayan,” he said.

(If we are asked if we have sufficient food packs for our countrymen, we have enough and the DSWD is ready to help our local government units in responding to the needs of our countrymen.)

The DSWD has doubled its repacking operations to ensure that supplies of food items are swiftly replenished, in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to provide an adequate supply of relief goods in times of calamity and to swiftly deliver relief aid to those in need.

“Kung dati-rati nagpo-produce tayo on a regular day ng mga 18,000 family food packs, ngayon umakyat tayo to 25,000 kasi nga alam natin na kailangan natin na i-augment o supplyan ng family food packs ang ating mga local government units,” Gatchalian said.

(If we produced 18,000 family food packs on a regular day, now we produce up to 25,000 because we know that we need to augment or supply our local government units with family food packs.)

Earlier, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) approved the release of P631.023 million to the DSWD to replenish its quick response fund (QRF) to finance the procurement of FFPs and NFIs for calamity victims and the stockpiling of relief goods.

In October, the DBM also released P 1.982 billion to the DSWD to replenish its QRF.

Gatchalian also ordered the DSWD’s field offices to ensure the swift distribution of food packs for families affected by Typhoon Uwan.

He also asked the DSWD’s regional directors for timely updates on the status on the distribution of relief aid and the emergency cash transfers (ECT) for affected families.

Gatchalian said Bicol Region, CARAGA, and Central Visayas are some of the “hungry field offices” in need of additional food packs.

“Maraming municipalities ang nanghihingi sa atin ng FFPs. Mas maganda na ma-maxed out ang capacity ng ating mga warehouses kaysa magkulang. Huwag nating isipin na mapupuno ng FFPs ang mga warehouse dahil mabilis lang din natin ’tong pinapamigay,” Gatchalian said.

(Many municipalities are asking us for FFPs. It’s good that our warehouses’ capacity are maxed out. We should not think that our warehouses are full of FFPs because we quickly distribute these.)

The replenishment of FFPs and other relief items will begin on Wednesday, November 12, for immediate delivery to the DSWD’s field offices. — JMA, GMA Integrated News