The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Wednesday assured the public that it is ready to bring swift aid to communities that may be affected by Tropical Depression Salome as it approaches extreme Northern Luzon.
In a statement, DSWD spokesperson and Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said close to two million boxes of family food packs (FFPs) have been prepositioned in its warehouses nationwide and are ready to be tapped for immediate relief operations.
“The DSWD, especially through the Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG), always sees to it that we are updated of the latest weather disturbance, its track and areas that are at risk as it traverses our country. Ito ay kahit na marami tayong tinututukan na disaster-hit areas dahil sa sunod-sunod na bagyo at lindol,” Dumlao said.
(The DSWD, especially through the Disaster Response Management Group, always sees to it that we are updated of the latest weather disturbance, its track and areas that are at risk as it traverses our country. This is even if we are addressing other disaster-hit areas because of recent typhoons and earthquakes.)
“Itong mga stockpile na ito na nasa mahigit kumulang na 1,000 warehouses natin ‘yan na naka-preposition na nationwide kaya makakasigurado ang ating mga kababayan na kung saan man magdala ng malakas na ulan itong TD Salome, mabilis tayong makakapag-paabot ng relief items para sa kanila,” she added.
(These stockpiles are in our 1,000 warehouses and these have been prepositioned nationwide. Our countrymen can be assured that regardless of where TD Salome dumps its rains, we can immediately deliver relief items for them.)
The DSWD also maintains non-food items (NFIs) worth P863 million like blankets, family hygiene kits, kitchen kits, and modular tents.
These are provided to families who will stay temporarily in evacuation centers.
Dumlao assured that the DSWD is in constant coordination with concerned local government units even before storms hit communities.
“Laging nasa unahan ng listahan natin na walang Pilipinong magugutom sa gitna ng sakuna at nakakapagbigay tayo ng agarang kapanatagan na palaging bilin ng ating Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. Magkatuwang po ang DSWD dyan pati na rin ang LGUs, as the disaster frontliners in their areas of jurisdiction,” she said.
(Our priority is to make sure that no Filipino goes hungry in the middle of a calamity and we are always able to immediately assure them of help. This is the constant reminder of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. The DSWD and LGUs work together as the disaster frontliners in their areas of jurisdiction.)
In its 11 p.m. bulletin, the state weather bureau said Salome is approaching extreme Northern Luzon and may make landfall in Batanes in the next 12 hours.
Dumlao also reminded Filipinos to be vigilant and always heed their LGUs’ advisories for their own safety. — JMA, GMA Integrated News
