The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Thursday, February 5, intensified disaster preparedness and response operations as Tropical Storm Basyang (Penha) threatens Mindanao and Visayas.

According to the DSWD’s Disaster Response Operations Management, Information and Communication (DROMIC) initial report, 1,167 families, or 1,685 individuals, in Kinoguitan, Misamis Oriental have already been affected by the storm.

In anticipation of further impact in Northern Mindanao, the DSWD Field Office raised its alert status and activated round-the-clock monitoring of weather advisories and field reports.

Quick response teams and specialized disaster response vehicles are on standby, while food and non-food items have been strategically prepositioned for rapid assistance to affected communities.

Standby funds amounting to P3 million are available at the Northern Mindanao regional office to support ongoing and potential relief operations.

In addition, 224,451 boxes of family food packs have been prepositioned, complementing other relief items ready for distribution.

“Our priority is to ensure that affected families receive timely support and that local response mechanisms are fully backed by national resources. Our field offices are closely coordinating with local government units to make sure relief supplies can be deployed immediately,” DSWD Disaster Response Management Group Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said.

“We are closely monitoring the movement of Tropical Storm Basyang and the risks it poses, particularly flooding and storm surge in vulnerable coastal communities. The DSWD remains proactive to ensure that no family is left without support during the storm,” she added.

Dumlao also noted that other DSWD field offices across the country are on alert in preparation for Basyang.