MANILA – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported Thursday that it has distributed more than PhP 55 million in humanitarian aid to families and individuals affected by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami).
DSWD Assistant Secretary for Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) Irene Dumlao said the department has distributed 71,514 family food packs (FFPs) and 2, 134 non-food items (NFIs) worth PhP 55, 284, 894 as of 6 a.m. Thursday.
“Of this number, the biggest chunk of 43, 423 FFPs were given to the Bicol Region, and 66, 691 to Eastern Visayas. And the DSWD continues the production of FFPs while disaster response is ongoing,” she said in a media forum at the DSWD Central Office in Quezon City.
Each family food pack contains 6 kg. of rice, four cans of corned beef, two cans of tuna flakes, two cans of sardines, five sachets of coffee, and five sachets of energy drink.
Dumlao said the DSWD also has PhP 204.3 million in standby funds and a stockpile of 1, 982, 600 FFPs.
“Nais nating banggitin na habang tayo ay nagdi-distribute ng FFPs sa affected populations, ay patuloy pa rin ang isinasagawang production sa ating major hubs, particularly at the National Resource Operations Center (NROC) and sa Visayas Disaster Resource Center (VDRC) para agad tayong makapag-replenish ng FFPs na dini-distribute na (We would like to mention that while the agency is distributing FFPs to the affected population, there is continuous production in our major hubs, particularly at the NROC and the VDRC, so that we can immediately replenish the FFPs that are being distributed),” she said.
Dumlao said the DSWD is working closely with local officials, the Philippine National Police, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, among others, “to ensure the swift and efficient delivery of essential food items, which are crucial for sustaining families during emergencies.”
The DSWD on Thursday distributed FFPs to 50 pre-emptively evacuated families from Consuelo, Santa Marcela in Apayao province; 200 FFPs and 186 NFIs to evacuees in various parts of Cagayan Valley; 1, 884 FFPs to families and individuals in San Jorge town, Samar province; and 2, 800 FFPs and 592 NFIs to evacuees from barangays Managanaga, Aquino, Obreo, and San Vicente in Jipapad, Eastern Samar. (PNA)