Camarines sur: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Bicol has provided 20,000 family food packs to households affected by the prolonged southwest monsoon (habagat) in eight municipalities in Camarines Sur. The relief assistance is intended to help families whose livelihoods and access to necessities have been affected by the continuing rains and rough sea conditions, particularly fisherfolk who have been unable to go out to sea.
According to Philippines News Agency, DSWD-Bicol reported that the assistance covers 3,124 households in Presentacion, 5,370 in Balatan, 1,461 in San Fernando, 1,970 in Minalabac, 1,460 in Libmanan, 4,157 in Pasacao, 1,591 in Bato, and 867 in Bula. DSWD - Disaster Response and Management Division chief Claudio Villarreal on Thursday said the agency continues to keep its resources ready for deployment in affected communities, in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to ensure the delivery of government assistance to those in need.
"During the onset of a disaster, the agency coordinates with the concerned LGUs to determine their immediate needs and the assistance required," he said. He said the assessment is supported by the Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center (DROMIC) and situational reports, as well as formal requests for augmentation submitted by local governments.
The official distribution of the FFPs in Camarines Sur began on Aug. 19 and remains ongoing; he noted that there is no definite end date for the operation, as the distribution schedule is being managed by the concerned LGUs based on their assessment of the needs of affected families. Aside from Camarines Sur, DSWD Bicol has also provided or allocated additional food packs to other areas affected by the continuing effects of Habagat and Tropical Depression Luis.
He said the agency allocated 23,820 FFPs for Catanduanes and 900 for Tabaco City, Albay, while additional requests for Camarines Sur were also approved, bringing the province's overall allocation to 86,436 FFPs. "These augmentations are in response to the continuing effects of the southwest monsoon and the previous Tropical Depression Luis, subject to the assessed needs and the availability of resources," he said.
To sustain its disaster response operations, DSWD Bicol currently has 278,651 FFPs in its stockpile and a PHP3 million standby fund. Overall, the field office maintains around PHP285 million worth of available stockpiles and resources for disaster response. He said these resources form part of the agency's preparedness measures to ensure that assistance can be mobilized when communities require support, subject to assessment, requests, and the appropriate approval and release procedures.
The relief operations are being carried out in coordination with the Provincial Government of Camarines Sur and the concerned LGUs to ensure that assistance reaches families in need.
