As a member-agency of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the field offices of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in areas being affected by Typhoon Lando are on red alert with disaster teams on 24-hour duty to monitor the situation and to provide assistance to local government units (LGUs).

DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman assured affected LGUs that there are enough relief supplies to augment their resources.

To date, the DSWD has prepositioned a total of 44,450 family food packs in 87 municipalities of 10 provinces in Regions CAR, II and IV-CALABARZON.

The National Resource Operations Center (NROC), the central warehouse of the DSWD located in Pasay City, has procured non-food Items such as 148,219 pieces Malong, 863 pieces of bath towel, 46,538 pieces of blanket, 9,715 pieces of mosquito net, 2,744 pieces of dust mask, and 38 packs of family kit (set of kaldero, kawali, ladle, drinking glass, cups, plate, spoon, fork, mats, blanket, and mosquito net).

With ‘Lando’ moving towards the Isabela-Aurora area, some 72 families or 219 persons from Isabela have moved to five evacuation centers managed by the provincial LGU, as of press time. The LGU of Isabela provided them with relief supplies worth P84,000.

The DSWD-Field Office II sent 500 family food packs to augment the resources of the LGU of Dinapigue, Isabela. The goods are temporarily stored at the warehouse of the provincial social welfare office of Quirino.

Also, repacking of family food packs at the field office is on-going to maintain the 30,000 stockpile at the regional warehouse.

On the other hand, in CAR, the DSWD-Field Office has prepositioned relief supplies at the local level to ensure immediate distribution to affected families. A total of 747 family food packs were sent to Abra, 750 to Kalinga, 2,000 to Apayao, and 2,000 to Ifugao. Some 1,600 family food packs are now being repacked for delivery to Mountain Province.

Sec. Soliman advised families especially in low lying areas and coastal areas to follow the orders of local authorities for their own safety. ###