DISASTER RESPONSE. Food packs prepositioned at the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) provincial operations office in Eastern Samar. The agency on Friday (Oct. 30, 2020) said the region has 17,131 family food packs prepositioned in strategic areas in six provinces amid the typhoon season. (Photo courtesy of DSWD)
TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) field office here has readied its stockpiles of relief goods amid the typhoon season.
In a phone interview on Friday, DSWD Eastern Visayas disaster response management division information officer Joshua Kempis said the region has 17,131 family food packs prepositioned in strategic areas in six provinces.
"These were transported and stored in warehouses located near typhoon-prone areas, for faster response to augmentation requests from affected towns and cities," he added.
Each food pack contains six kilos of rice, five sachets each of coffee and cereal drink, and assorted canned goods.
Kempis said the region also has prepositioned non-food items which include 3,575 tube skirts (malong), 409 blankets, 195 mosquito nets, 99 kitchen sets, 95 family kits, 49 sleeping kits.
A standby fund of PHP3 million can also be used to buy more relief materials when necessary, he added.
Earlier, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) warned of five to eight tropical cyclones, most of which are making landfalls, are expected to enter or develop in the Philippine Area of Responsibility in the last quarter of the year.
PAGASA said these tropical cyclones could trigger floods and landslides over susceptible areas, particularly in the eastern section of the country.
On Oct. 25, Typhoon “Quinta” (international name Molave) crossed the Bicol Region and affected some parts of Samar and Eastern Samar.
The DSWD said it is ready to extend assistance upon request from local governments of the affected areas. (PNA)
