Following the arrival of Typhoon ‘Ompong’ in the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is now on red alert status to strengthen its monitoring and preparedness for response measures in areas along the typhoon’s track.

In the latest 11AM bulletin of PAGASA, public storm warning signal number 1 is now hoisted in Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan group of Islands, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Isabela, Benguet, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna, Quezon Province, Polillo Island, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Burias Island, Ticao Island, and Northern Samar.

Earlier today, personnel from the DSWD Rapid Emergency Telecommunications Team (RETT), in coordination with DSWD-FO II and DSWD FO-Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), set up a Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) in Batanes and Baguio City to ensure efficient and reliable lines of communication during and after the onslaught of the typhoon.

In Region I, the DSWD National Response and Logistics Management Service (NRLMS) delivered 1,100 family kits, 2,600 sleeping bags, and 2,166 hygiene kits at the DSWD FO-I warehouse.

A total of 1,000 family food packs (FFPs) each were also prepositioned in Concepcion, Tarlac and in Mountain Province by DSWD FOs III and CAR to facilitate faster distribution of relief goods to residents who will be affected by Ompong.

Members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) also assisted in carrying and delivery of prepositioned sacks of National Food Authority (NFA) rice in Basco, Batanes.

Currently the DSWD maintains a total of 356,349 FFPs, food and non-food Items (FNIs) amounting to P710,825,555.00, and standby funds totalling to P872,003,147.00.

Meanwhile, DSWD Secretary Virginia N. Orogo already advised all field offices (FOs) in the affected regions to continue to prepare and provide monitoring updates for needed augmentation to local government units.

“The DSWD will continue to provide necessary assistance to LGUs  which will be affected by Typhoon Ompong.

In the meantime, we are urging citizens to remain alert and vigilant so that we can prevent any casualties,” Sec. Orogo  added. ###