In anticipation of the potential impacts of Tropical Depression Dodong, which made landfall in Dinapigue, Isabela province early Friday morning (July 14), regional offices of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) are on high alert.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian has instructed all regional directors to be fully prepared to assist families and individuals who may be affected by potential floods and landslides resulting from the enhanced Southwest monsoon or 'Habagat' triggered by TD Dodong.
Secretary Gatchalian emphasized the need for immediate activation of their respective Disaster Response and Management Division-Quick Reaction Teams (DRMD QRT) in all DSWD regional offices.
“All DSWD regional offices should immediately activate their respective DRMD QRT (Disaster Response and Management Division-Quick Reaction Teams) and closely coordinate with their local DRRMCs (Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council),” said the secretary.
Furthermore, the DSWD chief directed the Disaster Response and Management Group (DRMG), led by Undersecretary Dianne Cajipe, to ensure the availability of family food packs (FFPs) and other forms of relief assistance for swift dispatch to regional offices requiring additional supplies.
At present, the Bicol Field Office has a Quick Reaction Fund (QRF)/Standby Fund amounting to P5 million, and their total stockpile includes 129,193 boxes of family food packs (FFPs) valued at P80,860,982.00.
Additionally, non-food items (NFIs) like sleeping kits and hygiene kits worth P120,851,476 are also prepared for deployment, as reported by the Bicol regional office.
In the latest update of PAGASA, the center of TD Dodong was last spotted in the vicinity of Lasam, Cagayan, packing maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of 75 km per hour (kph).
Due to this, several areas in Luzon have announced class cancellations on Friday.
