Photo 1: Members of the Philippine Army help load DSWD Family Food Packs (FFP) for prepositioning to various local government units in Region II in preparation for Typhoon 'Ompong'. DSWD Field Office II has so far delivered 21,700 FFPs to LGUs in the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, and Batanes.   Photo 2: DSWD Field Office in Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) tapped the help of Police Regional Office Cordillera (PRO-COR) and Office of the Civil Defense-Cordillera (OCD-CAR) to deliver 1,000 Family Food Packs (FFPS) to different localities in the region in preparation for Typhoon 'Ompong'.
Photo 1: Members of the Philippine Army help load DSWD Family Food Packs (FFP) for prepositioning to various local government units in Region II in preparation for Typhoon ‘Ompong’. DSWD Field Office II has so far delivered 21,700 FFPs to LGUs in the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, and Batanes.
Photo 2: DSWD Field Office in Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) tapped the help of Police Regional Office Cordillera (PRO-COR) and Office of the Civil Defense-Cordillera (OCD-CAR) to deliver 1,000 Family Food Packs (FFPS) to different localities in the region in preparation for Typhoon ‘Ompong’.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), through its Field Offices (FOs), has prepositioned relief goods in regions that lie in the forecast track of Typhoon ‘Mangkhut’ (international name) or Typhoon ‘Ompong’), as it entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) today around 3:00 pm.

According to state weather bureau PAGASA, ‘Mangkhut’ may bring heavy rains and strong winds over Northern Luzon and parts of Central and Southern Luzon. It may also enhance the ‘Habagat’ which will bring occasional rains over Palawan, Mindoro Provinces, and Western Visayas.

In preparation for the effects of the typhoon, DSWD Field Office in Region II has delivered 21,700 family food packs as prepositioned goods to the local government units (LGUs) in the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, and Nueva Vizcaya. The FO has also prepositioned 432 sacks of rice in the province of Batanes; 72 of which are in the provincial office, while 60 sacks were distributed to the six municipalities of the province. It also conducted an inspection of evacuations centers in the province.

The Field Office also has 5,000 available DSWD Family Food Packs (FFPs), 1,000 hygiene kits, 2,500 collapsible water carrier with purification water tablet, and 1,000 sleeping kits in its warehouse, ready for distribution to concerned local government units if the need arises.

On the other hand, DSWD Field Office in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) has delivered 600 FFPs, 60 hygiene kits, and 60 sleeping kits in six municipalities in the province of Abra yesterday.

Field Office CAR has also provided 1,000 food packs to Mountain Province today as relief augmentation in preparation for the typhoon.

Meanwhile, the Department’s Field Office in Region I has a total of 4,230 prepositioned goods in the Ilocos Region. Of this number, 650 food packs are prepositioned in the Municipality of Burgos, Ilocos Norte; 1,000 in San Nicolas, also in Ilocos Norte; 1,000 in Vigan, Ilocos Sur; while 580 food packs are prepositioned in the City of San Fernando, La Union. There are also 200 relief goods that are prepositioned in the Municipality of Bolinao, Pangasinan, while 800 are in Manaoag, Pangasinan.

For Central Luzon, DSWD Field Office in Region III has already prepositioned a total of 8,000 FFPs in various local government units in the region, mostly in the province of Aurora.

The Department’s Field Office in CALABARZON will augment a total of 5,000 food packs to FO III, as some of the resources of the field office have already been exhausted after it responded to recent typhoons that hit Central Luzon.

Apart from prepositioning goods at the provincial and local levels, DSWD field offices have also activated their respective Quick Response Teams (QRTs) and Provincial and Municipal Action Teams (P/MATs) to be on alert and monitor the situation on the ground.

“We continue to strengthen our preparation for ‘Ompong’ to ensure the prompt provision of assistance to those who will be affected by the typhoon,” DSWD Secretary Virginia N. Orogo said.

“We once again call on our fellow citizens to heed the warnings that will be issued by their barangays and local governments, especially when it comes to pre-emptive evacuations, to ensure their safety. As with other calamities, our aim is zero casualty,” she added. ###