Over three million family food packs (FFPs) are being prepared by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) nationwide for families who will be affected by tropical depression “Crising.”
DSWD Spokesperson and Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said on Wednesday, July 16, that the agency is closely monitoring the low-pressure area (LPA) inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). Based on PAGASA’s 4:00 AM report on Wednesday, the LPA has a high chance of developing into a tropical cyclone on Thursday, July 17.
“In line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s vision of an omnipresent government — hindi natin hinahayaan na umabot pa sa worst case scenario yung mga looming disasters before we act,” Dumlao stated. “Tulad rito sa case ng LPA, hindi pa siya bagyo pero we make sure that our stockpiles are not only abundant but closest to areas projected to be heavily affected by the weather system.”
The agency’s disaster preparedness is anchored on the agency’s ‘Buong Bansa Handa’ (BBH), a program catered to Marcos’ directive for “fail-safe mechanisms” in the country's supply chains during times of calamities.
A stockpile of P773,134,509 worth of non-food items (NFIs) like family, hygiene, kitchen, and sleeping kits; water containers; and other shelter materials needed inside evacuation centers is also prepared by the agency.
According to the DSWD’s press release, the program features two supply chains, with the first one pulled from the enhanced and expedited production of FFPs at the National Resource Operations Center (NROC) in Pasay City and the Visayas Disaster Resource Center (VDRC) in Mandaue City.
Meanwhile, the second one is a private-sector-driven supply chain, where large and small groceries, supermarkets, manufacturers, and distributors are working alongside the agency for faster procurement of relief supplies.
“Year-round, we commit to the daily production of new boxes of family food packs para kahit tuloy-tuloy ang distribution, hindi tayo mauubusan. All hands are on deck to make sure that these supplies are spread out and made accessible for immediate distribution to our disaster-hit communities. Araw-araw natin sinisiguro yan, at mas pinapatindi pa natin lalo na ngayong rainy season,” Dumlao highlighted.
