5.2M food packs prepositioned across PH in preparation for possible storms —DSWD

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has already prepositioned nearly 5.2 million family food packs (FFPs) across the country in preparation for possible storms.

“Bago pa tumama itong sunod-sunod na mga bagyo at habagat, naka-preposition na ’yung ating mga goods. Nakakalat na sa buong kapuluan,” said DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB on Tuesday.

(Before these successive storms and the Habagat hit, our goods had already been prepositioned. They have been distributed across the country.)

He said the prepositioned food packs enabled DSWD to reach families affected by the bad weather in recent days.

“So far, naaabot naman lahat (family food packs) ng lahat (areas),” he said.

(So far, the family food packs are reaching all areas.)

Gatchalian assured the public that the DSWD also has sufficient funds to respond to the ongoing weather disruption.

“We have more than enough funds,” he said.

He also said that the government had prioritized the Quick Response Fund during the budget process to ensure that resources would be available during emergencies.

“Alam niyo, noong nag-budget season kasi, talagang ’yung Kongreso, Senado, at ’yung Pangulo, pinrioritize itong quick response fund kung tawagin,” Gatchalian said.

(You know, during the budget season, Congress, the Senate and the President really prioritized what we call the Quick Response Fund.)

Gatchalian said the DSWD would continue providing assistance to communities affected by the successive weather disturbances.

“Ang assurance ng DSWD… hindi tayo titigil hangga’t matulungan natin lahat ng naapektuhan,” he said.

(The DSWD’s assurance is that we will not stop until we have helped everyone who has been affected.)

The DSWD continues to coordinate with local governments and other agencies in delivering relief assistance to communities affected by heavy rains, flooding and other hazards brought by the recent weather disturbances.

Food packs distributed

In an Unang Balita interview on Tuesday, DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said that as of 6:00 AM, more than P24 million worth of humanitarian aid has been given to victims.

Dumlao also said that 292,000 family food packs have already been distributed, along with 11,000 ready-to-eat food boxes that have also been distributed.

The DSWD is also provideing financial assistance through Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) and emergency cash transfers.

The agency vowed to continue working with local government units and other agencies to address the calamity. —with reports from Jean Mangaluz/ VAL, GMA News