QUEZON: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian has assured President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. of the agency’s preparedness in responding to the impact of Tropical Storm Kristine. Gatchalian confirmed that there are sufficient stockpiles of family food packs across various regional hubs to support local government units affected by the storm.
According to Philippines News Agency, Gatchalian reported during a situational briefing at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) office that the national stockpile has reached the 2-million mark. He provided a detailed breakdown of stockpiles in several regions, including 93,836 family food packs in Region 1 (Ilocos Region), 109,353 in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley), and 170,352 in Region 3 (Central Luzon), among others. The distribution of these supplies has already commenced, and efforts to replenish the stockpiles are ongoing, with the Pasay hub producing 20,000 food packs daily.
The National Resource
Operations Center (NROC) in Pasay City and the Visayas Disaster Resource Center (VDRC) in Mandaue City, Cebu, are actively involved in the repacking and distribution of the family food packs to ensure timely relief for communities impacted by the storm. In addition to food assistance, President Marcos has directed Gatchalian to collaborate with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to provide water filtration systems to the Bicol Region.
Gatchalian disclosed plans to distribute over 100 buckets of water filtration kits to the affected areas in Bicol. Each kit is capable of supplying clean water to approximately 100 individuals per day. These portable filtration systems, demonstrated earlier to President Marcos, feature 0.1-micron filters designed to remove harmful bacteria, including cholera and E. Coli. The systems are intended for deployment in evacuation centers or communities experiencing compromised water sources due to natural calamities.