DSWD: Over 1M food packs prepositioned for those affected by Verbena

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Monday assured that sufficient relief assistance have been readied in anticipation of the impact of Tropical Depression Verbena on various parts of the country.

In a statement, DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the Disaster Response Management Group (DMRG) said over one million family food packs (FFPs) have been prepositioned ahead of the weather disturbance, which dumped rains and caused floods in Mindanao even before its landfall.

“Ang DSWD po ay may nakahandang 1,058,580 FFPs na naka-preposition sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng bansa. Bukod dito ay tuloy-tuloy rin ang repacking operations sa Luzon Disaster Resource Center (LDRC) at Visayas Disaster Resource Center (VDRC) para ma-replenish natin ang mga naipamahaging food packs sa mga nagdaang bagyo,” said Dumlao, the DSWD spokesperson.

(The DSWD has prepared 1,058,580 FFPs in various parts of the country. We also have ongoing repacking operations at our Luzon Disaster Resource Center and Visayas Disaster Resource Center to replenish the food packs that were distributed during past typhoons.)

The DSWD’s Field Offices (FOs) in Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas, Northern Mindanao, and CARAGA are also coordinating with concerned local government units (LGUs) to ensure that there are sufficient supplies of relief items in areas that may be affected by Verbena.

“As directed by Secretary Rex Gatchalian, patuloy ang aming communication sa mga local chief executives (LCEs) para masigurado na mayroong food and non-food items na present sa kani-kanilang mga lugar bago pa man dumating ang bagyo,” Dumlao said.

(As directed by Secretary Rex Gatchalian, we are in constant communication with our local chief executives to ensure that we have food and non-food items present in their areas even before the tropical depression hits them.)

Dumlao said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has previously ordered that no family should go hungry especially in times of calamity.

Aside from relief items, the DSWD’s specialized equipment are already on standby for rapid deployment.

These logistical resources include a mobile command center (MCC) for on-site coordination, a mobile kitchen capable of providing hot meals to evacuees, water trucks to address immediate water supply gaps, and water treatment units to ensure access to safe, potable water.

Dumlao also reminded Filipinos to be alert and vigilant and heed the advisories of their respective LGUs to ensure their safety amid Verbena’s onslaught.

In PAGASA’s 11 p.m. tropical cyclone bulletin on Monday night, Signal No. 1 was hoisted in 30 areas in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao as Verbena continues to move towards Bohol. — JMA, GMA Integrated News