Almost 5 million food packs positioned for TD Luis, says DSWD

In preparation for the anticipated effects of Tropical Depression Luis, over 4.9 million family food packs have been deployed across the country, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported Monday.

“Sa ngayon… ang national stockpile ng DSWD ay nasa mahigit 4.9 million family food packs. Strategically pre-positioned ’yan across the country, nasa mahigit 1,000 po ang ating warehouses na naglalaman ng mga food and non-food items,” DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumalo said on Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon.

(Currently, the DSWD's national stockpile stands at over 4.9 million family food packs. These are strategically pre-positioned across the country in more than 1,000 warehouses containing both food and non-food items.)

“Nakakatiyak po ang ating mga kababayan na tayo ay mabilis, maagap at magiging sapat ang tulong na maipapaabot sa mga kababayan po natin na maapektuhan nitong Luis, and of course, ng iba pang mga extreme weather phenomenon,” she added,

(Our citizens can rest assured that assistance for those affected by Tropical Depression Luis—and other extreme weather phenomena—will be swift, timely, and sufficient.)

In areas where Signal No. 1 has been raised, Dumlao said DSWD regional directors are already in touch with their respective jurisdictions to ensure prompt aid augmentation.

According to Dumlao, the DSWD has extended assistance to several affected areas, providing ready-to-eat food boxes to stranded passengers in Region 5 and family food packs to residents in some evacuation centers in Zamboanga.

“Bago pa man po tumama itong si Bagyong Luis at talagang araw-araw nagpo-produce ng mga family food packs ang DSWD sa Luzon Disaster Resource Center at sa Visayas Disaster Resource Center,” Dumalao said.

(Even before Tropical Depression Luis hit, the DSWD had been producing family food packs daily at the Luzon Disaster Resource Center and the Visayas Disaster Resource Center.)

She added that the agency will maintain its current production levels to ensure continuous stockpiling in its warehouses.

Dumlao explained that the DSWD distributes two types of relief packs.

The first is the family food pack, which contains six kilograms of rice, 10 canned goods, and five sachets each of instant coffee and chocolate drinks. Dumlao said this provides enough sustenance for a family of five for two to three days.

Meanwhile, the ready-to-eat food box contains champorado (chocolate rice porridge), arroz caldo (chicken rice porridge), tuna paella, and protein biscuits, which can feed a family of five for one day. — BM, GMA News