Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian directed the agency’s Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) to remain on alert and prepared to assist local government units (LGUs) along the path of Tropical Depression “Kristine.”
“We have to make sure Field Offices 1 and 2 (Ilocos Region and Cagayan Valley) and CAR’s (Cordillera Administrative Region) stockpiles are in full strength,” Gatchalian said during a meeting with the DRMG on Sunday, Oct. 20.
He said Kristine may follow a similar path as Super Typhoon Carina, which severely impacted Northern Luzon in July.
READ MORE: https://mb.com.ph/2024/10/21/tropical-depression-kristine-enters-par
Gatchalian also instructed the National Resource Operations Center (NROC) in Pasay City to expedite the production of family food packs (FFPs) to ensure readiness for the impending storm’s impact on Batanes.
“Request assistance from the Philippine Airforce and Navy to deliver the FFPs and other non-food items to Batanes,” he added.
As of DSWD’s latest report, there are 94,838 boxes of FFPs in Region 1; 113,296 in Region 2; and 62,360 in CAR.
The NROC has 186,311 augmentation FFPs on standby for distribution to affected localities.
“We are in constant communication with the Philippine Navy and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) to prioritize the delivery of FFPs in the island province of Batanes,” DRMG head Undersecretary Diana Rose Cajipe said in response to Gatchalian’s directives.
Cajipe said the DSWD aims to increase the stockpile in Batanes to 14,000 FFPs by Wednesday, Oct. 23.
Currently, there are 1,683 FFPs in Itbayat, Batanes, with additional food packs ready for dispatch from Villamor Airbase, Sta. Ana in Cagayan, or Laoag City in Ilocos Norte.
The DRMG will convene with DSWD regional directors nationwide on Oct. 21 at 4 p.m. to discuss further preparedness and response measures for tropical depression Kristine.