Over P1.6 billion worth of funds are on standby and ready to be allocated for super typhoon Karding victims, said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Sunday, Sept. 25.
"As of 6 a.m. today, the DSWD CO (Central Office), FOs (field offices), and National Resource Operations Center (NROC) have stockpiles and standby funds amounting to more than ₱1.6 billion," said DSWD in a statement.
The department noted that P600,441,200.86 from the said amount came from its Central Office and Field Offices (FOs).
"The DSWD also has 548,889 FFPs (family food packs) amounting to more than P327 million, other food items amounting to ₱174 million, and FNIs (food and non-food items) amounting to ₱502 million," the department added.
DSWD Secretary Erwin Tulfo has already alerted all FOs in Luzon to be ready on providing resource augmentation to local government units (LGUs) affected by the super typhoon Karding.
"This, after DSWD Secretary Erwin T. Tulfo met the concerned DSWD Regional Directors in Northern, Central, and Southern Luzon; Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, Bicol Region, and National Capital Region this afternoon," DSWD said.
Tulfo has also ordered the FOs to ensure that there are enough family food packs, food and non-food items, and clean drinking water ready to be distributed to LGUs hit by the super typhoon.
He also instructed them to assist stranded individuals in different port areas.
DSWD Field Offices from Regions I, II, III, IV-A, IV-B, and V, as well as in National Capital Region and Cordillera Administrative Region then assured that they have adequate relief assistance for super typhoon victims.
"In addition, Regional and Provincial Quick Response Teams (QRT) of the FOs are all ready for possible deployment," the department said.
"Secretary Tulfo is calling on the public to remain vigilant and to follow the orders of their local officials to ensure their safety, especially those residing in the path of Super Typhoon Karding," DSWD added.
As per the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration's (PAGASA) 8 p.m. bulletin, super typhoon Karding made its second landfall in the vicinity of Dingalan, Aurora at 8:20 p.m on Sept. 25.
Its first landfall was in Burdeos, Quezon at 5:30 p.m, PAGASA said.