The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) guaranteed that the agency has prepared enough family food packs for local government units hit by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine.
During a press briefing in Malacanang, on Thursday, October 24, DSWD Sec. Rex Gatchalian reported that the agency still has a stockpile of around 1,982,600 family food packs.
"Nagwi-withdraw na sila (LGUs) kaya kung nakita ninyo iyong numero na pinost ko kahapon noong during the command conference, the goods was at around two million," Gatchalian said.
"Now it’s down to 1.982 (million) so, bumababa na iyan at bibilis nang bibilis iyong pagbaba niyan lalo na makikita ninyo sa Region V, as the water subside and as they can withdraw the goods," he added.
Gatchalian particularly mentioned that Bicol Region, one of the areas hardest hit by STS Kristine, still has around 121,000 family food packs.
"Sa Region V, the whole Bicol Region, bago tumama ang bagyo, we had around 150,000 or 170,000 na mga family food packs on the ground in Region V," the DSWD chief mentioned.
"As of this morning, we still have around 121,000 family food packs in the region at tuluy-tuloy ang withdrawal ng mga local government units," he stressed.
Gatchalian shared that DSWD has also sent 100,000 family food packs to Bicol Region to replenish the stockpile of the region.
"En route na iyon ngayon. So, hindi pa man nauubos iyong family food packs doon sa region, dinadagdagan na natin siya," Gatchalian said.
Gatchalian also assured that DSWD has available funds to provide financial assistance to families affected by STS Kristine.
"Hindi naman iyan nauubos, that’s on top of our regular assistance funds and mayroon din kami, iyong sa disaster funds namin," Gatchalian said.
The DSWD secretary added that Department of Budget and Management Sec. Amenah Pangandaman also guaranteed that her agency has prepared standby funds in case needed.
