Manila: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has activated its red alert status as Tropical Depression (TD) Wilma nears the Bicol Region and the Visayas. The agency, along with its Disaster Response Command Center (DRCC), has been on high alert since Friday to ensure the timely delivery of necessary assistance to those affected by the impending weather disturbance.

According to Philippines News Agency, Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the Disaster Response Management Group emphasized the continuous coordination between DSWD field offices and local government units (LGUs) to facilitate a well-coordinated response. Dumlao assured the public of the availability of sufficient family food packs (FFPs), ready-to-eat food (RTEF) boxes, and other essential relief items prepositioned in warehouses across the country.

Currently, the DSWD holds PPHP2.1 billion worth of relief stockpiles and standby funds. To maintain disaster preparedness, the DSWD and its volunteers are actively repacking food packs at the Luzon Disaster Resource Center in Pasay City and the Visayas Disaster Resource Center in Mandaue City, Cebu.

In a proactive move, DSWD 5 (Bicol Region) distributed RTEF boxes on Friday to approximately 2,000 stranded passengers and drivers at the Matnog and Castilla ports in Sorsogon. Similarly, stranded passengers at the Surigao City Port and Nasipit Port received RTEF from DSWD 13 (Caraga).

Assistant Secretary Dumlao also noted that Quick Response Teams across field offices are on standby for emergency situations. In addition to relief assistance, the DSWD's mobile command centers and mobile kitchens are prepared for deployment to expedite aid delivery. Dumlao reiterated the agency's commitment to ensuring that no family goes hungry during calamities, in line with directives from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian.