As the combined effects of Tropical Depression ‘Bising’ and the ‘habagat’ bring inclement weather in the country, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) assured the public on the agency’s readiness to support families who will be affected, with over 3 million boxes of family food packs (FFPs) prepositioned nationwide.
Director Maria Isabel Lanada of the DSWD’s Disaster Response Management Bureau (DRMB) said these food items were made readily-available in 935 storing facilities across the country even before the LPA developed into a tropical depression.
This reflects the agency’s proactive response in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr’s marching order to ensure that no Filipino will go hungry in times of disasters or emergencies.
“For DSWD po, for our disaster preparedness dito sa Disaster Response Management Bureau, we are preparing po na lahat ng posibleng tamaan ng weather systems ay readily-available ang ating food and non-food items,” Director Lanada told reporters during the Thursday Media Forum on July 3.
Based on the 4:00 a.m. report of Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), TD Bising is 200km northwest of Calayan, Cagayan. It is expected to directly affect Northern Luzon and bring rains with gusty winds in the northwest portion of Ilocos Norte and western part of Babuyan Islands.
Southwest Monsoon, on the other hand, is affecting Central and Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
As for the other needs of those who may get displaced, the DRMB director told reporters that all the DSWD’s Field Offices (FOs) have 337,494 non-food items (NFIs), including family and kitchen kits, blankets, and modular tents, among other essential items needed inside evacuation centers.
“Kasama din po diyan ‘yung mandato ng DSWD na mas paghusayan ang atin Camp Coordination and Camp Management at ‘yung atin pong pag-eensure sa social protection ng ating mga Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs),” Director Lanada said.
According to the DRMB director, other DSWD disaster response equipment is on stand-by and will be deployed as needed, including the Mobile Command Centers (MCCs) which are already stationed in FOs nationwide to expedite communication lines between disaster response personnel.
“Meron din tayo, bukod sa mobile command center, ‘yung mobile kitchens natin nationwide ay ginagamit na rin ng ating 17 regions. And then we have our water treatment, pag nawalan ng tubig meron din tayong water service na mapo-provide,” Director Lanada pointed out.
Those who may possibly be stranded in seaports can also expect immediate relief as the DSWD has already prepositioned ready-to-eat food (RTEF) boxes in various ports nationwide with the help of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).
With the DSWD being on blue alert, the agency is ready to deploy all the necessary assistance to LGUs that will bear the brunt of the weather systems, according to the DRMB chief.
“Makikita po natin, kumpleto dahil ang response framework ni DSWD since Secretary Rex Gatchalian instructed us ay rights-based framework. Karapatang-pantao ang unahin. Kaya ang priority ng disaster response natin ‘yung karapatan muna ng taumbayan na huwag magutom at tiyakin na may pagkalinga ang DSWD,” Director Lanada said. (LSJ)