MANILA – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Monday assured that it has enough relief supplies for the residents affected by Tropical Storm “Enteng”.
DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao said the agency is continuously producing family food packs (FFPs) to ensure immediate replenishment and availability of food and non-food items for resource augmentation to its field offices (FOs) and local government units (LGUs).
“As instructed by Secretary Rex Gatchalian, we are ensuring that there are adequate FFPs and non-food items in the National Resource Operations Center (NROC) and the Visayas Disaster Resource Center (VDRC) which can readily be dispatched to areas hit by Enteng,” Dumlao said.
The NROC in Pasay City, serves as the main disaster response hub of the DSWD, while VDRC in Cebu City serves as the DSWD’s central disaster resource hub in the Visayas Region.
Dumlao said the DSWD, through its Disaster Response Command Center (DRCC), has been monitoring and coordinating with the agency’s FOs, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center (NDRRMOC), and other concerned agencies to ensure that all requests for assistance are immediately and properly addressed.
She said the DSWD FO in Bicol has distributed hot meals to the stranded passengers at the Tabaco Port in Tabaco City, Albay.
Some 6,052 families or 24,043 persons in the 76 barangays in Bicol, Central Visayas, and Eastern Visayas regions are affected by the typhoon, according to the DSWD’s Disaster Response Operations Management, Information, and Communication (DROMIC).
Some 909 families or 3,736 persons are now taking temporary shelter in 31 evacuation centers in the three regions. Some PHP410,000 worth of aid were initially provided by the DSWD for these affected families.
“Other DSWD FOs are on standby for possible inter-FO augmentation. We ensure that all our offices are ready to provide assistance as the need arises,” Dumlao said.
To date, there are more than 1.74 million boxes of FFPs and PHP1.21 billion worth of FNIs available in the DSWD’s NROC, VDRC, and Field Offices, she said.
PNP on heightened alert
The Philippine National Police (PNP), meanwhile, placed all of its units on heightened alert amid the two weather disturbances.
In a press briefing at Camp Crame, Quezon City Monday, PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil has also directed regional directors to activate their disaster incident management task groups to ensure compliance with protocols on humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR).
“As of 10 a.m. today, we have deployed around 5,234 personnel and that includes those deployed in evacuation centers. Last night (Sunday) and this morning, our personnel assisted in preemptive evacuations, although the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) is the lead agency with respect to SAR (search and rescue) operations,” she said.
She said female police officers from the Women and Children’s Protection Desk have also been deployed to help women and children in evacuation centers and to prevent incidents of violence and harassment.
Fajardo said they are also monitoring flooded areas in Metro Manila, like those near Tullahan River and Marikina River
“Because there is a certain water level that we need to watch out for. We are also monitoring Navotas, especially if a high tide coincides with bad weather, we really need to give particular focus in these areas,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Army’s 9th Infantry “Spear” Division (9ID) deployed HADR teams in the Bicol Region.
In a statement, the 9ID said its coordinated efforts with the Office Civil Defense and the provincial and municipal disaster response teams have minimized damage from Enteng’s onslaught.
The Philippine Army has also provided some PHP1.28 million worth of assistance to some 91 personnel severely affected by Typhoon Carina in July. (with Lloyd Caliwan and Priam Nepomuceno/PNA)
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