Ilocos region: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Ilocos Region has prepositioned a total of 143,705 food and non-food items (NFIs), ready for distribution to local government units (LGUs) affected by weather disturbances.

According to Philippines News Agency, as of noon Tuesday, there were 113,280 family food packs; 13,109 boxes of ready-to-eat food; 12,699 NFIs; and 4,617 one-liter bottles of drinking water, based on the report of the DSWD Field Office 1. These are stored in its regional warehouse, two satellite warehouses, and 26 active relief prepositioning areas in the entire region.

Each family food pack contains 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. NFIs include family kits, hygiene kits, kitchen kits, and sleeping kits. DSWD also has over PHP2.5 million in standby funds.

Under Republic Act 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act, local government units serve as the first line of defense and must provide immediate disaster response, risk reduction programs, and local-level planning. "The department shall provide augmentation for the food and non-food items only upon depletion of LGUs resources, according to the 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.