As the country braces for the effects of Tropical Storm Opong (international name Bualoi), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has once again assured the public that the agency is prepared to respond to the needs of all families that will be affected by the latest weather system to hit the country in just a week.
“Gusto kong malaman ng ating mga kababayan na ang DSWD ay handang-handa na umagapay sa mga magiging biktima, handang-handa tayong rumesponde sa magiging mga pangangailangan at masamang epekto nitong darating na Bagyong Opong (We want to assure our countrymen that the DSWD is ready to respond to any adverse effects of the incoming cyclone and provide the needed assistance),” DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said in a Facebook video post on Tuesday evening.
As of 6 a.m. Wednesday, the agency maintains more than PHP3.1 billion worth of standby funds and stockpiles in the Central Office and across all Field Offices, according to the report of the DSWD’s Disaster Response Operations Information Communication (DROMIC).
Included in the stockpile are more than 2.5 million family food packs (FFPs) worth over PHP1.6 billion; more than PHP131 million other food items; over PHP752 million non-food relief items; and more than PHP107 million other non-food items that are strategically prepositioned across all areas of the country.
“Makakasiguro kayo na bukod sa food packs, bukod sa mobile kitchen, pati na rin ang financial assistance pinaghahandaan na ng DSWD. Alinsunod ‘to sa utos ng ating Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (Besides the food packs, the DSWD has also readied mobile kitchens and financial assistance, in line with the directives of President Marcos),” the DSWD chief assured.
Meanwhile, some 14,873 families or 46,628 persons in Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, National Capital Region, and the Cordillera Administrative Region were displaced by the combined effects of the southwest monsoon and Tropical Cyclones Mirasol and Nando.
Of the total, 7,966 families or 23,937 individuals are still staying in temporary shelter in 459 evacuation centers.
Gatchalian said the DSWD, through its field offices, has already delivered 11,285 FFPs to typhoon-hit regions.
Of this number, 5,042 FFPs went to the Bicol Region; 4,736 were delivered to Cagayan Valley; 679 to CAR; 601 to Central Luzon; and 227 to Western Visayas.
The DSWD chief said mobile kitchens were also deployed to provide hot meals to evacuees.
“Nagpo-processing na rin tayo ng mga tulong pinansyal para sa mga naging biktima para makapagtaguyod muli sila ng mga tahanan nila, ng mga kabuhayan nila (We have also started processing the financial assistance to the victims for their recovery),” he said.
Child-friendly spaces were also set up in evacuation centers to provide games, informal education, and other activities for displaced children.
“Reminder sa ating mga kababayan, alam ko na gustong-gusto na natin bumalik sa ating mga tahanan, ngunit sana makinig tayo sa ating mga local government units. Pag sinabi nilang mag-preemptive evacuation tayo o manatili sa mga evacuation center, makinig tayo kasi para sa sarili nating kaligtasan ‘to (We are reminding our countrymen to listen to your local government units. If they order a preemptive evacuation or to continue staying in the evacuation centers, please listen, it’s for your own safety),” Gatchalian said. (PNA)