Manila: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has dispatched a total of 2,086,314 family food packs (FFPs) as part of ongoing disaster relief efforts for families and individuals affected by the southwest monsoon (habagat) and Tropical Cyclones Crising, Dante, and Emong that impacted the country in July.
According to Philippines News Agency, the relief operations are in line with directives from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., ensuring that those most affected by the successive calamities are not neglected. Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the DSWD's Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) emphasized the continued efforts in a statement, highlighting the strict instructions from the President to support the affected citizens.
The latest data from the Disaster Response Operations Management, Information, and Communication (DROMIC) indicates that more than 2.8 million families, or approximately 10.3 million individuals from 9,809 barangays across 18 regions, including the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), have been impacted by the recent weather systems.
The DSWD has provided over PHP1.4 billion in humanitarian aid, which includes family food packs, ready-to-eat-food, family kits, hygiene kits, sleeping kits, and other essential non-food items. Financial assistance has also been extended to 10,250 beneficiaries under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program.
Furthermore, DSWD social workers are conducting psychosocial activities for women, children, and other vulnerable groups, having provided psychosocial first aid to 1,546 beneficiaries to date.
Assistant Secretary Dumlao also mentioned the ongoing collaboration with local government units (LGUs) and sectoral groups to ensure aid reaches those in need. She noted that Secretary Rex Gatchalian has instructed the agency to remain vigilant and efficient in its disaster response actions, especially during the peak of the typhoon season.
The DSWD spokesperson reassured the public of the sufficient supply of food packs, with over 1.9 million FFPs currently stockpiled in various warehouses nationwide. The production of these packs continues to guarantee readiness to meet the food needs of families affected by disasters, particularly with the approach of Severe Tropical Storm Gorio.