With Typhoon “Marce” (international name: Yinxing) approaching, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) assured local government units (LGUs) that it has stockpiled 1,351,815 family food packs for distribution to areas in the cyclone’s path.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian made the assurance on Tuesday, Nov. 5, during the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Preparedness Meeting for Tropical Cyclone Marce.
DSWD’s Disaster Response and Management Group (DRMG) head, Undersecretary Diana Rose Cajipe, reported that the agency’s predictive analytics tool has projected a need for around 300,000 boxes of family food packs as the typhoon brings severe weather to northern Luzon.
“This tool helps us estimate the number of families likely to be affected, ensuring that we pre-position our supplies in the most affected regions,” Cajipe said.
While the DSWD has sufficient stockpiles to meet the projected demand for relief aid, Gatchalian has also ordered preparations to expedite the production of family food packs, including the full activation of the agency’s hubs in Central Luzon.
“On November 4, Secretary Gatchalian instructed the activation of Central Luzon hubs, in addition to the repacking stations in the Visayas and Pasay, to boost stockpiles in the northern regions,” Cajipe said.
She added that these efforts will streamline food pack production and logistics to ensure aid delivery to families affected by Marce, as well as those still recovering from Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (Trami) and Super Typhoon Leon (Kong-rey).
Cajipe also assured that while preparing for Marce, the DSWD continues its relief efforts for communities in Bicol, particularly with the provision of psychosocial support for those affected by recent disasters.