The National Food Authority said it is ready to release its rice buffer stock in case of a calamity during the holidays.
The NFA gave the assurance amid the continued restiveness of the Kanlaon Volcano as well as the impact of the prevailing intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) in most parts of the country.
“We have instructed our employees in the field to immediately activate our Operation Centers (OpCen) in the areas affected by floods, typhoons, and other emergencies and to open their hotlines to fast track coordination with our relief institutions,” said NFA Administrator Larry Lacson.
“Holiday season but we are always open to serve our people in times of need,” he added.
The NFA has reached 95 percent of its buffer stock target this year.
As this developed, the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office-Davao Region (FO-11) extended assistance to families displaced by flash floods due to the heavy rainfall caused by the prevailing ITCZ.
“We received reports from our Davao Field Office of several incidents of flooding in Davao Occidental. As of today, we have extended 887 family food packs (FFPs) worth P541,070 to the affected localities for distribution to their affected constituents,” Assistant Secretary for Disaster Response Management Group Irene Dumlao said yesterday.
“Currently, some 739 families or 3,158 individuals are staying in five evacuation centers in Davao Occidental. We are checking with the LGUs if they need additional food and non-food items for the displaced residents. Our regional office has 157,339 FFPs and standby funds available for augmentation if the need arises,” she added.
