Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian assured the public that the agency is fully prepared to provide immediate assistance to families that may be affected by a potential super typhoon expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) tonight or early tomorrow.
“Posibleng tumama sa hilagang Luzon ang binabantayang Tropical Depression (Bagyong Uwan) na inaasahang papasok sa PAR ngayong Sabado. Bilang paghahanda, nagsagawa ang DSWD Field Office 1 – Ilocos Region, katuwang ang mga community volunteers, ng quality inspection sa mga family food packs (FFPs) upang matiyak na maayos ang bawat kahon bago ipamahagi,” Gatchalian said in social media post on Thursday (Nov. 6).
At the same time, Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao of the DSWD’s Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) said the Department has over 2 million FFPs prepositioned in various warehouses nationwide and ready for rapid deployment once Typhoon “Uwan” makes landfall.
“Bilang paghahanda sa paparating naman na bagyong Uwan, mayroon pang mahigit 2 million family food packs ang DSWD. Naka-preposition yan sa iba’t ibang warehouses,” Dumlao, who is also the DSWD spokesperson, said.
Among the priority areas for DSWD’s disaster readiness are Aurora province and Regions 1 (Ilocos Region), 2 (Cagayan Valley), 3 (Central Luzon)—the areas expected to bear the effects of Typhoon Uwan based on current forecasts by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
Dumlao emphasized that the DSWD’s Field Offices are closely coordinating with their respective local government units (LGUs) and are currently monitoring high-risk communities and ensuring that prepositioned goods can be quickly mobilized to the would-be affected areas.
Echoing the guidance of Secretary Gatchalian, Dumlao pointed out that the DSWD’s disaster response teams are always among the first to arrive and the last to leave the disaster-stricken areas.
“Kakayanin ng DSWD — yan ang laging sinasabi ng aming butihing Secretary, Secretary Rex Gatchalian. Kami po ang nauuna sa lugar pag may bagyo dahil nakapag-preposition na kami ng mga food and non-food items, at kami po ang huling aalis doon sa mga lugar na na-devastate ng mga bagyo sapagkat we wanted to make sure that we support the recovery o yung pagbangon ng mga disaster-affected families,” the DSWD spokesperson said.
To sustain its disaster response operations, Dumlao said the DSWD is currently coordinating with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for the replenishment of its quick response funds (QRF).
