Manila: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Wednesday assured the public of its readiness to respond to families that may be affected by Tropical Storm Maymay (international name Kujira) even as ongoing disaster response operations for the 7.8 magnitude earthquake, Mayon Volcano threat, and other calamities continue.
According to Philippines News Agency, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) issued Tropical Cyclone Bulletin No. 5, raising Signal No. 2 over Ilocos Sur, the northern and central portions of La Union, the northwestern portion of Pangasinan, the southwestern portion of Abra, the western portion of Mountain Province, and the northwestern portion of Benguet. In addition to Maymay, PAGASA also warned that the enhanced southwest monsoon or 'habagat' will continue to bring moderate to heavy rains across Metro Manila, most of Luzon and Visayas, and parts of Mindanao, increasing the risk of flooding and landslides nationwide.
In a radio interview, Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the DSWD's Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) stated that the department has intensified its monitoring and coordination with local government units (LGUs) and other partner agencies to ensure the immediate delivery of assistance should the need arise. Dumlao emphasized that the disaster response teams and personnel of the DSWD's Central Office and Field Offices nationwide are on alert to immediately provide needed assistance to families that may be affected by heavy rains, flooding, and other threats posed by the inclement weather.
Based on the latest Disaster Response Operations Monitoring, Information and Communication (DROMIC) report as of 6 a.m. Wednesday, the DSWD has 4.999 million family food packs (FFPs) strategically prepositioned across disaster resource centers, regional warehouses, and hubs nationwide. The DSWD also maintains sufficient stocks of ready-to-eat food (RTEF) boxes and other food and non-food items (FNFIs), alongside PHP1.66 billion worth of Quick Response Fund (QRF) available at the DSWD Central Office to support immediate disaster response operations.
Dumlao highlighted President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive for the DSWD to ensure rapid and adequate assistance to citizens affected by various calamities. The DSWD guarantees that sufficient prepositioned goods are available in various warehouses nationwide, with a current stockpile of 4.9 million family food packs.
The DSWD advised the public to monitor official weather bulletins issued by PAGASA and announcements from their respective LGUs while taking necessary precautions against the possible effects of Maymay and the habagat.
