Ilocos: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Ilocos Region has distributed a total of 5,087 food and non-food items to support the relief operations of local government units (LGUs) in the area.

According to Philippines News Agency, the DSWD Field Office reported that 409 family food packs were distributed to Ilocos Sur, while La Union received 3,573 food and non-food items, and Pangasinan received 1,105 items. The distributed food items include family food packs and ready-to-eat food packs, and non-food items such as sleeping kits, hygiene kits, kitchen kits, and laminated sacks.

Previously, DSWD prepositioned 143,705 food and non-food items for distribution to LGUs affected by weather disturbances. This stockpile includes 113,280 family food packs, 13,109 boxes of ready-to-eat food, 12,699 non-food items (NFIs), and 4,617 one-liter bottles of drinking water. These supplies are stored in the regional warehouse, two satellite warehouses, and 26 active relief prepositioning areas across the region.

Each family food pack contains essentials such as six kilos of rice, four cans of tuna, four cans of corned beef, two cans of sardines, five sachets of instant coffee, and five sachets of cereal. Additionally, the DSWD Ilocos regional office has over PHP2.5 million in standby funds.

Under Republic Act 10121, also known as the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act, LGUs are tasked with being the first line of defense, providing immediate disaster response and risk reduction programs. The DSWD's role is to augment food and non-food items when LGU resources are depleted, as stated in DSWD Administrative Order No. 2, series of 2021. "Nevertheless, DSWD ensures its readiness to assist the LGU as needed," DSWD-Ilocos Region Director Marie Angela Gopalan said in a recent statement.