The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Bicol (DSWD-5) has prepared 335,598 family food packs (FFPs) in anticipation of the possible effects of the low-pressure area (LPA) being monitored by the state weather bureau in the Southern Luzon-Visayas area.

In a phone interview on Monday, Claudio Villareal, chief of the DSWD-5 Disaster Response and Management Division (DRMD), said the FFPs are prepositioned in various warehouses across the region and are ready for dispatch if needed.

Villareal said the agency has also placed 36,246 non-food items, 22,086 ready-to-eat food units, and 49,176 other non-food items on standby across different warehouses.

In addition, a PHP3 million standby fund is available for the immediate purchase of food packs or other needed kits.

“The DSWD-5, along with the DRMD, is actively monitoring weather advisories and situational updates. We maintain continuous coordination with the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC), local government units (LGUs), and partner agencies for the possible effects of the LPA,” he said.

Villareal said DSWD-5 has also coordinated with local government units regarding evacuation centers ahead of the expected weather disturbance.

“DRMD participated in Pre-Disaster Risk Assessment scenario-building meetings with RDRRMCs and LGUs. As the lead agency for Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) during disasters, DSWD-5 activates the CCCM subcluster when needed,” he added.

Other standby assets include one mobile command center, two mobile kitchens, one mobile water station with operational equipment, two trucks, one pickup truck, and one L300 vehicle.

The agency is also coordinating with the Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and LGUs on agricultural recovery, including seed and input replacement, livestock assistance and referrals to other agency programs for crop and livestock insurance and rehabilitation.

Source - https://www.pna.gov.ph