Ahead of the expected entry of a tropical storm into the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said on Saturday, June 20, that it has prepositioned 4.7 million family food packs and prepared over P4.4 billion worth of relief resources nationwide.

Citing a report from the Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center (DROMIC) as of 6 a.m., the DSWD said relief supplies have been strategically positioned in field offices and warehouses nationwide to ensure the immediate delivery of assistance to communities that may be affected by the approaching weather disturbance.

The agency said it currently has P4.416 billion in standby funds and stockpiles consisting of food and non-food items available for augmentation support.

Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao ,the spokesperson of the DSWD, said the agency has activated its preparedness measures ahead of the tropical cyclone’s expected entry into PAR.

“Nakaantabay po ang DSWD at ang lahat ng ating Field Offices upang agad na makapagbigay ng kinakailangang tulong sakaling may mga pamilyang maapektuhan ng inaasahang sama ng panahon. Patuloy po nating mino-monitor ang sitwasyon at nakikipag-ugnayan tayo sa mga lokal na pamahalaan upang matiyak ang mabilis na paghahatid ng tulong kung kinakailangan (The DSWD and all our Field Offices are on standby to immediately provide the necessary assistance should families be affected by the expected weather disturbance. We continue to monitor the situation and coordinate with local government units to ensure the swift delivery of aid when needed),” she said in a statement.

Dumlao said the department’s disaster-response resources remain readily available to support affected communities throughout the emergency.

“Bukod sa ating 4.7 milyong family food packs na naka-preposition sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng bansa, mayroon din pong nakalaang pondo upang makapagbigay ng agarang suporta sa mga pamilyang maaapektuhan ng kalamidad. Sisiguruhin po nating mabilis na maipararating ang kinakailangang tulong sa ating mga kababayan (In addition to the 4.7 million family food packs prepositioned across various parts of the country, funds have also been allocated to provide immediate support to families affected by disasters. We will ensure that the necessary assistance reaches our fellow Filipinos as quickly as possible),” she added.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the tropical storm located east of Southeastern Luzon is expected to enter PAR between Saturday evening and Sunday morning, June 21, when it will be assigned the local name Francisco.

While landfall remains less likely, PAGASA said the cyclone could intensify into a typhoon by Sunday and urged the public and local disaster management authorities to continue monitoring official weather advisories.

Likewise, the DSWD spokesperson assured the public that the agency continues to sustain its disaster-response operations for families affected by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Sarangani and other parts of Mindanao earlier this month.

As of the latest DROMIC report, the agency said it has provided P318.646 million worth of assistance to affected families through family food packs, non-food items, financial aid, emergency shelter support, and other humanitarian interventions.

“Patuloy po tayong nakikipag-ugnayan sa mga lokal na pamahalaan at iba pang partner agencies upang matiyak na mabilis na naihahatid ang kinakailangang tulong at walang pamilyang maiiwan sa ating disaster response operations. Manatili pong alerto at mag-iingat po ang lahat (We continue to coordinate with local government units and partner agencies to ensure the prompt delivery of needed assistance and that no family is left behind in our disaster-response operations. We urge everyone to remain alert and stay safe),” said Dumlao.

Ahead of the expected entry of a tropical storm into the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said on Saturday, June 20, that it has prepositioned 4.7 million family food packs and prepared over P4.4 billion worth of relief resources nationwide.

Citing a report from the Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center (DROMIC) as of 6 a.m., the DSWD said relief supplies have been strategically positioned in field offices and warehouses nationwide to ensure the immediate delivery of assistance to communities that may be affected by the approaching weather disturbance.

The agency said it currently has P4.416 billion in standby funds and stockpiles consisting of food and non-food items available for augmentation support.

Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao ,the spokesperson of the DSWD, said the agency has activated its preparedness measures ahead of the tropical cyclone’s expected entry into PAR.

“Nakaantabay po ang DSWD at ang lahat ng ating Field Offices upang agad na makapagbigay ng kinakailangang tulong sakaling may mga pamilyang maapektuhan ng inaasahang sama ng panahon. Patuloy po nating mino-monitor ang sitwasyon at nakikipag-ugnayan tayo sa mga lokal na pamahalaan upang matiyak ang mabilis na paghahatid ng tulong kung kinakailangan (The DSWD and all our Field Offices are on standby to immediately provide the necessary assistance should families be affected by the expected weather disturbance. We continue to monitor the situation and coordinate with local government units to ensure the swift delivery of aid when needed),” she said in a statement.

Dumlao said the department’s disaster-response resources remain readily available to support affected communities throughout the emergency.

“Bukod sa ating 4.7 milyong family food packs na naka-preposition sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng bansa, mayroon din pong nakalaang pondo upang makapagbigay ng agarang suporta sa mga pamilyang maaapektuhan ng kalamidad. Sisiguruhin po nating mabilis na maipararating ang kinakailangang tulong sa ating mga kababayan (In addition to the 4.7 million family food packs prepositioned across various parts of the country, funds have also been allocated to provide immediate support to families affected by disasters. We will ensure that the necessary assistance reaches our fellow Filipinos as quickly as possible),” she added.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the tropical storm located east of Southeastern Luzon is expected to enter PAR between Saturday evening and Sunday morning, June 21, when it will be assigned the local name Francisco.

While landfall remains less likely, PAGASA said the cyclone could intensify into a typhoon by Sunday and urged the public and local disaster management authorities to continue monitoring official weather advisories.

Quake response 

Likewise, the DSWD spokesperson assured the public that the agency continues to sustain its disaster-response operations for families affected by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Sarangani and other parts of Mindanao earlier this month.

As of the latest DROMIC report, the agency said it has provided P318.646 million worth of assistance to affected families through family food packs, non-food items, financial aid, emergency shelter support, and other humanitarian interventions.

“Patuloy po tayong nakikipag-ugnayan sa mga lokal na pamahalaan at iba pang partner agencies upang matiyak na mabilis na naihahatid ang kinakailangang tulong at walang pamilyang maiiwan sa ating disaster response operations. Manatili pong alerto at mag-iingat po ang lahat (We continue to coordinate with local government units and partner agencies to ensure the prompt delivery of needed assistance and that no family is left behind in our disaster-response operations. We urge everyone to remain alert and stay safe),” said Dumlao.