QUEZON CITY -- Social Welfare Secretary Erwin Tulfo said that government resources are sufficient to address the needs of Filipino families displaced in the aftermath of tropical storm Paeng.

He assured President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. that standby funds amounting to PHP372.57 million in Quick Response Fund (QRF) are available at the DSWD Central Office while PHP72.72 million are with the DSWD field offices to support the relief needs of displaced families.

He, however, cited difficulties in reaching some areas particularly Maguindanao due to continuing bad weather.
"Pinahiram tayo ng air assets ng Office of Civil Defense... hindi lang po madala dahil sa patuloy na ulan... pero naka-ready po yun," Tulfo said during the full council meeting of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council that President Marcos presided today, Saturday.

While Paeng still lingers, Secretary Tulfo said the DSWD is preparing for another typhoon that threatens Mindanao.
"We've instructed those preparing food packs to get ready," he added.

He reported that a total of PHP462.872-worth of assistance was provided to families in regions 6, 7, and Caraga, of which PHP413,282 was from DSWD and PHP49,590 from Local Government Units (LGU).

A total of 74,315 Family Food Packs (FFP) were prepositioned and are readily available in Disaster Response Centers; of which, 43,486 FFPs are at the National Resource Operations Center (NROC) in Pasay City and 30,829 FFPs are at the Visayas Disaster Resource Center (VDRC), Mandaue City. (DSWD)