Iloilo city: The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Western Visayas (DSWD-6) is set with PHP178.27 million in standby funds and stockpiles to support local government units during emergencies and natural disasters.

According to Philippines News Agency, the preparations were unveiled during the Disaster Response Management Group meeting, focusing on the impacts of El Ni±o and La Ni±a, current preparedness measures, and enhancing response strategies nationwide. Data from DSWD-6 revealed that, as of June 3, the regional office has PHP3 million in standby funds. Additionally, there are 187,450 family food packs valued at PHP113.26 million, 34,812 ready-to-eat food boxes worth PHP29.29 million, and PHP32.72 million in non-food items, including essential kits and shelter materials.

The DSWD-6 emphasized the strategic prepositioning of these resources at the regional warehouse and 74 local sites across Western Visayas to ensure swift disaster response. Furthermore, the regional office has dedicated PHP71.05 million for Project LAWA and BINHI, initiatives designed to boost climate resilience and food security in vulnerable communities. These projects span 24 cities and municipalities in Western Visayas and Negros Occidental, focusing on enhancing local water access and agricultural productivity.

The department is also prepared to deploy quick response teams from provincial to municipal levels, with its mobile command center and mobile kitchen ready for operational deployment when required.