Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian assured the provincial government of Catanduanes on Monday (November 18) that the agency will provide additional family food packs (FFPs) for the families affected by Super Typhoon (ST) Pepito.

Secretary Gatchalian said the delivery of additional 45,000 FFPs, which are on top of the 10,000 prepositioned FFPs before ST Pepito made a landfall in the province, are expected to be completed by Saturday (November 23).

“On top of the 10,000 FFPs that were prepositioned before the storm, an additional 45,000 FFPs are on their way and are expected to arrive by Saturday. This assistance will continue as long as needed,” Secretary Gatchalian said during a situation briefing with Governor Joseph Cua and members of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) Bicol at the Provincial Capitol Building in Virac town.

The DSWD chief also conveyed the message of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr, commending the preemptive evacuation efforts of the provincial and local governments of Catanduanes which contributed and resulted to zero casualty.

According to Secretary Gatchalian, the President said the entire national government agency machinery is behind the people of Catanduanes.

“The President is relaying that the entire national government agency machinery is behind you. He appreciates the preemptive evacuation dahil nag zero casualty. That is I think the most important and best news of this disaster,” the DSWD chief pointed out.

As instructed by President Marcos, the DSWD is now processing the provision of financial aid to the families whose houses were damaged.

“On top of that, Governor, we will wait for your listing.

The President also instructed me already to start processing financial assistance for those whose homes were damaged—severely and partially damaged,” Secretary Gatchalian said.

Secretary Gatchalian added: “On the side of the DSWD, by hook or by crook, tapos kami by Saturday—all the 45,000 . But it does not end there. We’ll start moving to cash hopefully by next week.”

After the situation briefing, the DSWD chief oversaw the distribution of FFPs to 459 families from Barangays Marilima, Batag, and Balite in Virac.

Secretary Gatchalian was accompanied by Undersecretary for Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) Diana Rose Cajipe and DSWD Field Office 5 – Bicol Regional Director Norman Laurio. # (YADP)

 

Tagalog Version

Pagpapadala ng dagdag na 45K FFPs sa Catanduanes, tiniyak ng DSWD Chief

Tiniyak ni Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian sa provincial government ng Catanduanes na magpapadala ng karagdagang family food packs (FFPs) ang ahensya para sa mga pamilya at indibidwal na naapektuhan ng bagyong Pepito.

Ayon kay Secretary Gatchalian, magpapadala ang DSWD ng dagdag na 45,000 FFPs, bukod pa ito sa 10,000 FFPs na naka-preposition na bago pa man mag-landfall ang bagyong Pepito. Ang karagdagang relief assistance ay inaasahang makukumpleto sa Sabado (November 23).

“On top of the 10,000 FFPs that were prepositioned before the storm, an additional 45,000 FFPs are on their way and are expected to arrive by Saturday. This assistance will continue as long as needed,” sabi ni Secretary Gatchalian sa ginanap na situation briefing sa Provincial Capitol sa Virac Catanduanes kasama sina Governor Joseph Cua at myembro ng Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) ng Bicol .

Kasabay nito, ipinarating din ng DSWD chief ang mensahe ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr, kung saan pinuri nito ang ginawang preemptive evacuation efforts ng provincial at local government ng Catanduanes na nagresulta sa zero casualty.

“The President is relaying that the entire national government agency machinery is behind you. He appreciates the preemptive evacuation dahil nag zero casualty. That is I think the most important and best news of this disaster,” sabi ng DSWD chief.

Samantala, bukod naman sa dagdag na FFPs, kasalukuyang pinoproseso na ng ahensya ang paglalaan ng tulong pinansyal sa mga pamilyang sinalanta ng bagyo.

“On top of that, Governor, we will wait for your listing. The President also instructed me already to start processing financial assistance for those whose homes were damaged—severly and partially damaged,” sabi pa ni Secretary Gatchalian.

Dagdag pa niya, “On the side of DSWD, by hook or by crook, tapos kami by Saturday—all the 45,000 . But it does not end there. We’ll start moving to cash hopefully by next week.”

Matapos naman ang ginanap na situation briefing, personal na pinamahalaan ng DSWD chief ang pagbibigay ng FFPs sa halos 459 pamilya mula sa mga Barangay ng Marilima, Batag, at Balite sa Virac, Catanduanes.

Kasama ni Secretary Gatchalian sa nasabing aktibidad si Undersecretary for Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) Diana Rose Cajipe at DSWD Field Office 5 – Bicol Regional Director Norman Laurio. # (MVC)