MANILA: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has reached a historic milestone by producing nearly 10 million family food packs (FFPs) from January to December 2024. This achievement reflects the agency's commitment to enhancing disaster preparedness and response capabilities, as announced by DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao.
According to Philippines News Agency, the DSWD's intense focus on stockpiling and strategically positioning FFPs across the nation has led to the production of 9,856,984 boxes through its central hubs in Metro Manila and Cebu. This figure marks the largest number of FFPs produced by the agency in a single year. Dumlao emphasized that the record-setting production is a testament to the DSWD's ongoing dedication to being adequately equipped to assist citizens during disasters and emergencies.
The 2024 production represents a substantial 42 percent increase from the previous year's total of 4,187,337 food packs, manufactured at the National Resource Operations Center (NROC) in Pasay City and the Visayas Disaster Response Center (VDRC) in Mandaue City, Cebu province. Dumlao attributed the surge in production to the enhanced implementation of the Buong Bansa Handa (BBH) project, which was initiated under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive to establish a robust supply chain for disaster readiness and response.
The BBH project operates through two supply chain mechanisms. The first involves a government-driven approach to bolster the production capacities at the DSWD's primary hubs and ensure prompt distribution to field offices nationwide. The second mechanism involves partnerships with private sector entities, including groceries, supermarkets, manufacturers, and distributors, to leverage their expertise and resources.
Out of the total food packs produced, 3,163,826 were from NROC and 2,341,360 from VDRC under the government-driven mechanism. An additional 4,351,798 FFPs were procured through private sector collaborations. Dumlao noted that during the last quarter of 2024, which was marked by multiple tropical cyclones, the DSWD's daily production peaked at 30,000 boxes to meet urgent needs.
Dumlao highlighted the role of collaboration with both private and public sector partners in executing the DSWD's logistical operations, from procurement to repacking and distribution. The dedication of employees and volunteers was also acknowledged as crucial to accelerating the agency's efforts during large-scale disaster responses.
Under the leadership of Secretary Rex Gatchalian and President Marcos Jr., the DSWD aims to continue surpassing previous records in disaster response. Dumlao concluded with a commitment to making the agency's impact felt on the ground and to further enhancing its response strategies in 2025.
