Regional offices of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) are now in standby mode, ready to respond to any possible adverse effects of Tropical Depression (TD) Dodong as it made landfall in Dinapigue, Isabela province early Friday morning. This was after DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian directed all regional heads to be ‘extra ready’ to respond to families and individuals who will be affected by possible floods and landslides due to the enhanced southwest monsoon or ‘habagat’ caused by Dodong. ‘All DSWD regional offices should immediately activate their respective DRMD QRT (Disaster Response and Management Division-Quick Reaction Teams) and closely coordinate with their local DRRMCs (Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council),’ Gatchalian said in his directive. He also ordered the Disaster Response and Management Group (DRMG), headed by Undersecretary Dianne Cajipe, to make sure that family food packs (FFPs) and other forms of relief assistance are ready for immediate dispatch to regional offices needing augmentation of their stockpile. Based on the latest weather bulletin, tropical cyclone wind signal (TCWS) No. 1 is hoisted over Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya (Region 2-Cagayan Valley); Apayao, Kalinga, Abra, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet (Cordillera Administrative Region); Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, the northern portion of Pangasinan (Region 1-Ilocos Region); and the northern and central portions of Aurora –Maria Aurora, San Luis, Baler, Dipaculao, Dinalungan, Casiguran, Dilasag (Region 3- Central Luzon) Gusty conditions due to the southwest monsoon may also be experienced in Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Calabarzon, Metro Manila, and other areas of Central Luzon where wind signal was not hoisted. Last Wednesday, the DSWD Bicol regional office (Field Office V) reported flooding in Polangui, Albay due to heavy rains caused by the southwest monsoon. Currently, the Bicol Field Office has a QRF (quick reaction fund)/Standby Fund worth PHP5 million, while the total FFPs is at 129,193 boxes worth PHP80,860,982.00. Non-food items (NFIs) such as sleeping and hygiene kits worth PHP120,851,476 are ready for dispatch, the DSWD regional official reported.
Source: Philippines News Agency
