QUEZON CITY, (PIA) -- Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian ordered the Agency’s Field Offices (FOs) to preposition additional family food packs (FFPs) and other relief supplies to areas along the expected path of the approaching weather disturbance.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Tropical Storm Mawar is currently outside of the Philippine Area of Responsibility but may likely develop into a super typhoon once it enters the country.

“As part of its regular disaster response efforts, the DSWD has already prepositioned FFPs in strategic locations in all regions,” DSWD spokesperson and Assistant Secretary Romel Lopez said.

To date, there are a total of 797,051 FFPS as stockpile at the different regional offices with an aggregate amount of Php565.78 million.

In addition, there are 110,667 FFPs available in Disaster Response Centers, with the breakdown as follows: 101,525 FFPS at the National Resource Operations Center (NROC) in Pasay City and 9,142 FFPs at the Visayas Disaster Resource Center.

“The FFPs can form part of additional resources to the LGUs which might be affected,” Lopez said

The DSWD spokesperson said the Department also has Php579.89 million Quick Response Fund at the Central Office while P69.77 million are available at the DSWD Field Offices.

“The DSWD’s National Resource and Logistics Management Bureau (NRLMB) is also coordinating with the Field Offices for augmentation of food and non-food items,” Lopez said.

DSWD FO Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) has prepositioned 16,355 FFPs in the provinces of Abra with 4,401 FFPs, Kalinga with 5,300 and Apayao with 6,654.

In Region I (Ilocos Region), the DSWD FO has already inspected the regional and satellite warehouses to ensure the stockpiling of of FFPs.

Although the projected affected areas are in the extreme Northern Luzon, DSWD FO 7 (Central Visayas) has already conducted a pre-disaster risk assessment meeting to prepare for any eventuality.

As of press time, initial deliveries of relief supplies have been dispatched and provision of necessary augmentation to DSWD-Field Offices along the approaching cyclone’s path will continue.

Upon further directive of Secretary Gatchalian, all disaster response teams should monitor the progress of Tropical Storm Mawar so that appropriate disaster mitigating measures can be immediately carried out. (dswd/pia-ncr)