DSWD prepares P1.5-M standby fund for areas along storm's path

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has prepared P1.5-million worth of relief supply and standby funds for local government units (LGUs) that could be affected by tropical storm “Helen.”

Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman said the DSWD regional offices along the path of the storm have prepositioned P500,000 in standby funds and 2,000 family packs worth P1 million ready to be distributed to LGUs.

The National Resource Operations Center (NROC) in Pasay City has already prepared 156,980 food packs, the DSWD said.

Some P41.6-million worth of food and non-food assistance has already been released by the DSWD to families affected by the recent floods.

Some 260,484 persons are still being served in 698 evacuation centers in Metro Manila and nearby provinces, the DSWD said.

“The DSWD disaster teams in all affected regions continue to operate 24/7 and coordinate with the LGUs to ensure immediate assistance in relief distribution, data generation, and management of evacuation centers,” Soliman said.

Meanwhile, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) would distribute food to about 77,000 flood-affected children under the age of three in Luzon in partnership with the Department of Health.

The WFP is supporting the government in the operations to help thousands of people affected by heavy rains over the past week.

“WFP is saddened by the humanitarian impact of the non-stop rains over the last week in the Philippines, and we would like to reiterate our solidarity with the Philippine government during times of emergencies,” WFP representative to the Philippines Stephen Anderson said.

The agency would provide food and logistical support to complement the government’s emergency relief efforts.

So far, it has delivered 52.5 tons of high-energy biscuits for distribution to some 262,500 flood-affected people in various regions.

High-energy biscuits are wheat-based biscuits fortified with vitamins and minerals. They are often distributed during the first few days of an emergency, when people have limited access to cooking facilities.

WFP is contracting trucks to help transport government relief supplies to affected communities in Central Luzon, northern Luzon, National Capital Region, and neighboring regions. – With Pia Lee-Brago