BUTUAN CITY: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has activated relief operations in the Caraga region in anticipation of Tropical Storm Kristine. The agency has strategically positioned significant resources to address potential emergencies as the storm nears.
According to Philippines News Agency, DSWD-13 has allocated over PHP75.6 million in food and non-food supplies, along with PHP3 million in standby funds. The agency has stockpiled 7,918 family food packs in regional warehouses and has further prepositioned 105,204 family food packs across various local government unit facilities. In addition, 31,168 non-food items are ready for deployment as circumstances demand.
The DSWD emphasized its readiness to handle emergencies and is actively coordinating with local government units to monitor the storm’s impact. As of late Tuesday morning, Tropical Storm Kristine was tracked 35 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes. It carries maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour and gusts rea
ching up to 80 kilometers per hour, moving northwest at 10 kilometers per hour.
The provinces of Dinagat Islands and Surigao del Norte, along with Siargao and Bucas Grande Island, remain under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1, indicating potential adverse weather conditions due to the storm.