Tacloban: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) regional office here announced that it has prepared PHP236.37 million worth of relief items ready for distribution in the wake of recent earthquakes. This stockpile is part of the agency's ongoing efforts to provide immediate assistance to affected areas.

According to Philippines News Agency, the relief stockpile includes 125,216 food items, which consist of 18,473 ready-to-eat food packs and 106,743 family food packs (FFPs). Additionally, there are 22,146 non-food items available, such as family kits, sleeping kits, hygiene kits, and kitchen kits. Jonalyndie Chua, the information officer for DSWD-Eastern Visayas, emphasized the agency's commitment to preparing for the impacts of natural calamities, including the recent significant earthquake in Davao Oriental.

Chua stated, "DSWD is always ready to respond. We continue to monitor and coordinate with local governments to ensure immediate response and assistance to those who may have been affected." This preparedness is crucial for ensuring that relief reaches those who need it most in a timely manner.

Moreover, personnel from DSWD-Eastern Visayas are actively working alongside partner agencies to support families in Cebu affected by the September 30 magnitude 6.9 earthquake. In collaboration with local government units and the Philippine National Red Cross, DSWD social workers are monitoring the living conditions in evacuation sites and engaging with displaced families to assess their needs.

To further aid those impacted, the DSWD regional office dispatched a mobile kitchen to Cebu province last week. This mobile kitchen, staffed by nine personnel from the DSWD-Eastern Visayas field office, aims to provide essential support to families severely affected by the earthquake.