The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has facilitated the loading of critical relief supplies into container vans bound for Basco, Batanes as Typhoon Francisco (International name Mekkhala) strengthens over the Philippine Sea, placing Batanes and northeastern Cagayan under Signal No. 1.
In partnership with the United Nations-World Food Programme (UN-WFP), the Department on Monday dispatched four container vans carrying 7,000 family food packs (FFPs) and another van loaded with 1,020 kitchen kits and 100 modular tents.
These goods are expected to arrive in the province between June 24 and 25.
The arrival of these supplies will boost the relief reserves in Batanes to a total of 24,034 FFPs, supplementing the 17,034 boxes already prepositioned in the province.
In a radio interview, Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the DSWD’s Disaster Response Management Group said the Department, under the leadership of Secretary Rex Gatchalian, has established the Buong Bansa Handa Program to activate two parallel supply chains and guarantee the uninterrupted delivery of relief assistance during calamities.
“Hindi tayo maghihintay ng ilang araw bago tayo makatugon sa pangangailangan ng mga kababayan natin naapektuhan. Sa katunayan para dito sa bagyong nakakaapekto sa ating bansa, habang patuloy tayo nag-provide ng assistance sa Mindanao, we’re ready to provide the same assistance dito naman sa bandang Luzon na maaaring masalanta nitong bagyo (We will not wait for a few days before responding to the needs of the people who will be affected. In fact, while we continue to provide assistance to Mindanao, we are ready to provide the same assistance to areas here in Luzon that might be affected by the typhoon),” Dumlao said.
As of the latest report, the Department has strategically prepositioned 4.7 million FFPs across its regional Field Offices and warehouses nationwide, available to augment the resources of local government units during emergency operations. (PNA)