Aside from family food packs (FFPs) and Ready-to-Eat Food (RTEF), non-food items such as hygiene kits are included in the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) relief package that are given to those affected by typhoons and other forms of emergencies.
Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao of the DSWD’s Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) said the agency’s disaster relief package was designed to ensure that families in evacuation centers will not go hungry and can still maintain their personal hygiene.
“Ang DSWD aside from family food packs and Ready-to-Eat Food (RTEF) ay namimigay din ng mga non-food items. Ang non-food items naman ay iba-iba din ang mga ito. Meron tayong hygiene kits, family kits, sleeping kits na iba-iba din ang laman. Yong mga damit na sinasabi niyo po ay nasa family kits, yong mga sabon, toothbrush, toothpaste naman ay nasa hygiene kits,” Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao of the DSWD’s Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) told reporters at the Saturday (July 5) News Forum at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City.
Asst. Secretary Dumlao, who is also the DSWD spokesperson, said the relief supplies that are being distributed are based on the essential needs of disaster-affected families.
“Ang DSWD kasi ay hindi lamang nangunguna sa provision ng food and non-food items , we are also lead in Camp Coordination and Camp Management and in the Protection of Internally Displaced Persons kayat tinitiyak po namin na ang pangangailangan ng bawat sektor at bawat miyembro ng pamilya ay naibibigay po natin. Kaya nga nakahanda lahat at naka-preposition po ito sa iba’t-ibang panig ng ating bansa,” the DSWD spokespersom explained at the forum.
Recognizing the need for clean and potable water during disasters, Asst. Secretary Dumlao said the DSWD has also invested in water trucks and water treatment systems.
“Nag-deploy na rin po kami nyan [water trucks and water treatment system] sa ating mga Field Offices,” the DSWD spokesperson pointed out.
The DSWD also distributes water filtration kits to evacuees, according to the DRMG official.
“So, hinanda po lahat yan ng DSWD because we have learned so much from our experience in the past,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao said. (MBM)