Manila: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has mobilized more than 1 million boxes of family food packs (FFPs) to regions potentially impacted by Tropical Depression Verbena. The strategic prepositioning of these relief goods aims to mitigate the immediate needs of affected communities.

According to Philippines News Agency, Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the DSWD's Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) confirmed that 1,058,580 FFPs are ready across the country. Repacking operations are actively ongoing at the Luzon Disaster Resource Center (LDRC) in Pasay City and the Visayas Disaster Resource Center (VDRC) in Mandaue City to ensure a continuous supply following previous storm distributions.

DSWD spokesperson Dumlao emphasized that field offices in the Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas, Northern Mindanao, and Caraga are in communication with local government units (LGUs) to secure adequate relief items in anticipation of the weather disturbance. Meanwhile, Verbena made landfall over Bayabas, Surigao del Sur at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, as reported by weather bureau PAGASA.

Assistant Secretary Dumlao highlighted the department's ongoing collaboration with local chief executives to ensure the availability of food and non-food items in vulnerable areas as directed by Secretary Rex Gatchalian. This initiative aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive to prevent hunger during calamities.

In addition to relief items, the DSWD has prepared specialized equipment for rapid deployment. This includes a mobile command center for on-site coordination, a mobile kitchen for providing hot meals to evacuees, and water trucks and treatment units to ensure access to safe drinking water.

Assistant Secretary Dumlao urged citizens to remain vigilant and heed LGU advisories to ensure their safety during this period.