LEGAZPI CITY (PIA) — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is on alert for a new low-pressure area that could develop into a cyclone, and has prepositioned over 208,000 food packs for the Bicol region.
According to DSWD’s Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center (DROMIC) report last Sunday, the food packs are already prepositioned in different warehouses across the region.
By strategically positioning resources in advance, the government can assist immediately when it is needed, the DSWD field office in Bicol said.
A family food pack contains various recommended food items enough to sustain a family of five for two days, according to the Disaster Response Management Bureau.
In anticipation of potential passenger stranding due to the weather disturbance, the DSWD has also prepositioned 500 ready-to-eat food (RTEF) packs at the Philippine Ports Authority terminal in the island province of Masbate.
RTEF packs are stored at the seaport for immediate distribution to stranded passengers.
This measure ensures that those affected have access to nutritious, ready-to-eat meals while they are waiting at terminals, said DSWD Regional Director Norman Laurio.
“Sa panahon ng kalamidad, hindi natin kayang ipagpaliban ang pagkain ng ating mga kababayan. Kaya’t sisiguraduhin ng DSWD Bicol na agad na maihatid ang tulong sa oras na ito’y kailangan,” Laurio said.
Records from DROMIC indicate that the DSWD in Bicol has over P223.8 million in available relief resources.
These resources include 208,079 family food packs and 25,788 non-food items, which consist of family kits, sleeping kits, hygiene kits, and kitchen kits.
Also, the DSWD-Bicol has P3 million in standby funds for distribution to affected families.
As Super Typhoon Nando nears the exit of the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported on Monday that a low-pressure area, situated 1,360 kilometers east of Eastern Visayas, has the potential to develop into a tropical cyclone.
“Sa ngayon ang nakikita natin ay posible itong pumasok ng PAR by Wednesday [Sept. 24],” said Pagasa Southern Luzon weather forecaster Alexis Ruivivar during the Philippine Information Agency’s Ugnayan sa Bicol radio program last Tuesday.
Ruivivar said that based on current data, the LPA is forecast to head toward the Bicol Region and Visayas area. SOURCE: PIA Bicol