Cagayan: Over 50,000 family food packs are ready for dispatch in Cagayan amid the possible effects of Tropical Depression Crising, according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Thursday. In a media interview, DSWD Regional Director Lucia Suyu-Alan said the Quick Response Team of the DSWD Field Office 2 has been activated on Thursday morning, in collaboration with the City/Municipal Action Teams and Social Welfare and Development Offices.
According to Philippines News Agency, Suyu-Alan emphasized that family food packs and non-food items have been prepared as augmentation support to the local governments in the region. These supplies have been strategically prepositioned to provide immediate aid to residents who may be affected by the tropical depression.
As of Thursday afternoon, there are 50,194 family food packs valued at PHP31.36 million ready for distribution. Additionally, 19,193 non-food items are stored in agency warehouses, ready to be released if necessary, Suyu-Alan reported.
Meanwhile, Calayan, Cagayan Mayor Joseph Llopis spearheaded a pre-disaster risk assessment meeting with the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council at the Sangguniang Bayan Session Hall on Thursday. During the meeting, MDRRMO head Joe Robert Arirao stated that evacuation centers are being prepared, and residents have been advised to take precautionary measures to safeguard life and property amid the worsening weather conditions.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) issued an 11 a.m. bulletin indicating that 14 areas are under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 due to Crising. PAGASA further noted that Crising could reach tropical storm status within the day and potentially intensify into a severe tropical storm by Friday, with a possible landfall over mainland Cagayan during the weekend.
In response to the inclement weather, several local government units have suspended classes at all levels for the day, and two flights have been cancelled.
