Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian reported to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr on Friday (September 6) the agency is continuing its disaster response operations for the effects of Severe Tropical Storm “Enteng”, while ensuring that there will be enough relief items in preparation for the possible weather disturbances that could develop in the next two weeks.

“Mr. President, tama po kayo, hindi na natin malalaman ‘yung ending ng Enteng response sa incoming storms but based on your last instructions, we are both doing the response, stockpiling, and the procuring all at the same time, sabay-sabay na sila,” Secretary Gatchalian said during a situation briefing on the effects of Enteng in Rizal Province held at the Ynares Events Center in Antipolo City.

According to the DSWD chief, the agency is halfway through the estimated 500,000 FFPs intended for Enteng-hit families to alleviate the effects of the weather disturbance.

“For FFPs, half a million, 500,000 nationwide. We are halfway through and nag-slow down na po ‘yung pasok ng requests. So, we’ll be able to process everything by the end of this week, lahat po ‘yun fully deployed na, then we can start stockpiling for the next two storms coming in,” Secretary Gatchalian pointed out.

The DSWD has so far released a total of 265,104 FFPs nationwide as augmentation support to the affected local government units (LGUs) according to Secretary Gatchalian.

These FFPs are either prepositioned in the DSWD Field Offices, released to LGUs, or currently being delivered/picked-up by LGUs.

The President also asked for updates from Secretary Gatchalian on the provision of cash assistance on top of FFPs.

“We are, of course, still providing food packs and non-food items but pag may bagyo, we always arrive at the point where humihingi na ng cash kasi they have their own needs sa baby, they have to buy baby food, iba-iba. So, hindi na kaya doon sa food packs,” the President said.

In response, Secretary Gatchalian reported the agency will start the distribution of financial assistance to affected families next week.

“Mr. President, that will commence by next week. Ngayon kasi nandoon pa sila sa FFP requests and then we are starting to get the cash payout schedules for next week in the affected areas. That’s also taken care of, Mr. President,” the DSWD chief said.

Before adjourning, President Marcos instructed the DSWD chief to continue its disaster response efforts.

“DSWD, you carry on. You know what to do. We are unfortunately all too familiar with this situation,” the Chief Executive instructed.

Disaster response in Rizal Province

According to the DSWD chief, the agency has released 41,961 family food packs (FFPs) in CALABARZON, of which 28,100 boxes were distributed in the province of Rizal.

“Mr. President, for CALABARZON we released 41,961 FFPs, of which a greater chunk went to Rizal, 28,100, that’s spread across the different levels of government, some to the provinces, some to the municipalities,” the DSWD secretary pointed out.

Secretary Gatchalian assured President Marcos that the agency is continuously processing requests from the affected LGUs of the province of Rizal.

“We have been coordinating with the province and congressional representatives as to where we need to deploy more family food packs,” the DSWD chief said. #

Tagalog Version

We are doing response, stockpiling, procuring all at the same time – DSWD chief

Tiniyak ni Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian sa kanyang ulat kay Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr., na sapat at hindi magkukulang ang mga relief items bilang paghahanda sa mga posible pang kalamidad na darating sa bansa.

Kasunod nito, iniulat na rin ni Secretary Gatchalian na hindi timitigil ang ahensya sa disaster response operation upang masiguro na mabibigyan ng tulong ang lahat ng mga residenteng nasalanta ng nagdaang bagyong Enteng.

“Mr. President, tama po kayo, hindi na natin malalaman ‘yung ending ng Enteng response sa incoming storms but based on your last instructions, we are both doing the response, stockpiling, and the procuring all at the same time, sabay-sabay na sila,”sabi ni Secretary Gatchalian sa ginanap na situation briefing sa Ynares Events Center, Antipolo City sa lalawigan ng Rizal.

Ayon sa DSWD chief, halos kalahati na ng tinatayang 500,000 FFPs ang nakalaan para sa Enteng-hit families.

“For FFPs, half a million, 500,000 nationwide. We are halfway through and nag-slow down na po ‘yung pasok ng requests. So, we’ll be able to process everything by the end of this week, lahat po ‘yun fully deployed na, then we can start stockpiling for the next two storms coming in,”sabi pa ni Secretary Gatchalian.

Tinatayang halos 265,104 FFPs nationwide ang naipamahagi na ng DSWD bilang augmentation support sa mga apektadong local government units (LGUs).

Ang mga nasabing FFPs ay pawang naka-preposition na sa ibat ibang Field Offices ng DSWD, habang ang iba naman ay naibigay na sa LGUs, at ang iba ay nai-deliver o na pick-up na.

Samantala, humingi naman ng updates ang Pangulo kay Secretary Gatchalian hinggil sa provision ng cash assistance bukod pa sa FFPs.

“We are, of course, still providing food packs and non-food items but pag may bagyo, we always arrive at the point where humihingi na ng cash kasi they have their own needs sa baby, they have to buy baby food, iba-iba. So, hindi na kaya doon sa food packs,” sabi ng Pangulo.

Bilang tugon, sinabi ni Secretary Gatchalian, magsisimula na ang ahensya ng distribution ng financial assistance sa mga apektadong pamilya. Ito ay sisimulan sa susunod na linggo.

“Mr. President, that will commence by next week. Ngayon kasi nandoon pa sila sa FFP requests and then we are starting to get the cash payout schedules for next week in the affected areas. That’s also taken care of, Mr President,” sabi ng DSWD chief.

Bago matapos ang briefing, nagbigay ng direktiba ang Pangulo sa DSWD Secretary na magpatuloy sa ginagawa nitong disaster response efforts.

“DSWD, you carry on. You know what to do. We are unfortunately all too familiar with this situation,” pahayag ng Chief Executive.

Samantala, nakapamahagi na ang DSWD ng 41,961 family food packs (FFPs) sa CALABARZON, kung saan ang 28,100 boxes nito ay naibigay na sa lalawigan ng Rizal.

“Mr. President, for CALABARZON we released 41,961 FFPs, of which a greater chunk went to Rizal, 28,100, that’s spread across the different levels of government, some to the provinces, some to the municipalities,” paglilinaw ng DSWD secretary.

Muli ding tiniyak ni Secretary Gatchalian sa Pangulo ang patuloy na koordinasyon ng ahensya at nga mga affected LGUs sa lalawigan ng Rizal.

“We have been coordinating with the province and congressional representatives as to where we need to deploy more family food packs,” sabi pa ng DSWD chief. #