As part of its proactive approach to disaster management, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has already prepositioned more than 2 million boxes of family food packs (FFPs) in the agency’s different warehouses nationwide even before Severe Tropical Storm Kristine hit the country.

“Bago pa po tumama ang Bagyong Kristine, ang DSWD ay nakapag-preposition na ng family food packs (FFPs) sa iba’t bang panig ng bansa. Nasa mahigit 2 million ang FFPs natin,” Assistant Secretary for Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) Irene Dumlao, who is also the DSWD spokesperson, told reporters during the Thursday Media Forum at the DSWD Central Office in Quezon City on October 24.

Asst. Secretary Dumlao emphasized that the DSWD provides the needed basic services of disaster-affected families through the prepositioning and augmentation of FFPs and standby funds while the LGUs are the first responders in the occurrence of natural and man-made calamities, based on Republic Act 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010.

Food packs, humanitarian aid

According to the DSWD spokesperson, the agency has so far released a total of 71,514 boxes of FFPs to the affected local government units (LGUs) which requested relief augmentation.

Of this number, the biggest chunk of 43,423 FFPs were given to Region 5 (Bicol Region); 16,691 to Region 8 (Eastern Visayas); 5,160 to Region 12 (SOCCSKSARGEN); 3,623 to MIMAROPA; 1,238 to Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula); 1,152 to Region 6 (Western Visayas); 222 to Region 2 (Cagayan Valley); and 5 boxes to the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

Asst. Secretary Dumlao said the agency continues the production of FFPs while disaster response is on-going.

“Nais nating banggitin na habang tayo ay nagdi-distribute ng FFPs sa affected populations, ay patuloy pa rin ang isinasagawang production sa ating major hubs, particularly at the National Resource Operations Center (NROC) and sa Visayas Disaster Resource Center (VDRC) para agad tayong makapag-replenish ng FFPs na dini-distribute na,” the DRMG official pointed out.

Based on the October 24 Disaster Response Operations Management, Information and Communication (DROMIC) report, more than Php55.28 million humanitarian aid has been provided by the DSWD to the affected families and individuals. This includes FFPs and food and non-food items.

Buong Bansa Handa

In the same media forum, Special Assistant to the Secretary (SAS) for Disaster Response and Management Group (DRMG) and Concurrent Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the National Resource and Logistics Management Bureau (NRLMB) Leo Quintilla highlighted the readiness of the DSWD to STS Kristine though the Buong Bansa Handa (BBH) project.

The BBH employs two parallel supply chain mechanisms for disaster preparedness and response. The first one features a national and local government-driven supply chain, while the second supply chain forges partnerships with established large and small groceries, supermarkets, manufacturers, and distributors to leverage on their technical expertise and resources to create a private sector-driven supply chain.

“In just one day, we have already released around 71,000 FFPs. Ito po yung pinakamabilis. Bakit po pinakamabilis? Number one ay nagkaroon tayo ng programa na tinatawag na BBH. This is a strategy of the DSWD, especially on the production and propositioning of FFPs especially to different levels. We called that the hubs, the spokes, and last miles,” SAS Quintilla pointed out.

SAS Quintilla explained that the hubs are the production area of the agency and serve as the central storage facilities. These include three NROCs located in the cities of Pasay, Valenzuela, and Paranaque; and the Visayas Disaster Resource Centers (VDRC) in Mandaue City, Cebu.

There are also four DSWD FO 3-Central Luzon hubs in Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, and Tarlac; and one DSWD FO 11-Davao Region hub in Pantukan, Davao de Oro.

Another hub is currently being constructed in Butuan City in Caraga Region that will serve the whole of Mindanao.

“Ang hubs po ay may kakayahan na mag-produce ng 10,000 to 15,000 FFPs a day,” the NRLMB OIC said.

Aside from the hubs, the DSWD has 75 spokes facilities nationwide which are provided by LGUs in strategically located areas in cities as well as in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd class municipalities.

“Yung atin namang mga spokes, these are the DSWD regional warehouses—owned, managed, or rented by the DSWD. Ito naman po ay may kakayahan magstore ng 5,000 up to 10,000 FFPs. Ito ay usually sa mga major cities and regional centers natin,” SAS Quintilla said.

The last mile warehouses nationwide are strategically located in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) or hard-to-reach areas, including 4th, 5th, and 6th class municipalities.

“Ang last mile warehouses ay may capacity of less than 5,000,” the agency official said. #

Tagalog Version 

2M food packs naka-preposition na sa mga DSWD warehouse sa buong bansa bago pa dumating ang bagyong Kristine

Inihayag ng Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) na mayroong mahigit sa dalawang milyong kahon ng family food packs (FFPs) ang naka-preposition sa iba’t-ibang warehouses ng ahensya bago pa man manalasa ang bagyong Kristine.

Sa ginanap na Thursday Media Forum sa DSWD New Press Center sinabi ni Assistant Secretary for Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) at Spokesperson Irene Dumlao, “bago pa po tumama ang Bagyong Kristine, ang DSWD ay nakapag-preposition na ng family food packs (FFPs) sa iba’t bang panig ng bansa. Nasa mahigit 2 million ang FFPs natin.”

Binigyang diin ni Asst. Secretary Dumlao ang pagbibigay ng ahensya ng mga kailangang serbisyo para sa mga disaster-affected families. Ito ay sa pamamagitan ng pag-preposition ng mga FFPs kabilang na ang standby funds na kailangan.

Sabi pa ng DSWD spokesperson, nakapagbigay na ang ahensya ng 71,514 kahon ng FFPs sa mga lokal na pamahalaan na naapektuhan ng bagyo.

Sa bilang na ito halos 43,423 FFPs ang naipamahagi na sa Region 5 (Bicol Region); 16,691 sa Region 8 (Eastern Visayas); 5,160 sa Region 12 (SOCCSKSARGEN); 3,623 sa MIMAROPA; 1,238 sa Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula); 1,152 sa Region 6 (Western Visayas); 222 sa Region 2 (Cagayan Valley); at 5 kahon ng FFPs sa Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

Sa kabila nito, sinabi ni Asst. Secretary Dumlao na patuloy pa rin ang repacking ng mga FFPs upang matugunan ang lahat ng request ng mga LGUs na nangangailangan ng tulong para sa kanilang mga nasasakupan.

“Nais nating banggitin na habang tayo ay nagdi-distribute ng FFPs sa affected populations, ay patuloy pa rin ang isinasagawang production sa ating major hubs, particularly at the National Resource Operations Center (NROC) and sa Visayas Disaster Resource Center (VDRC) para agad tayong makapag-replenish ng FFPs na dini-distribute na,” sabi pa ng DRMG official.

Sa pinakahuling report mula sa Disaster Response Operations Management, Information and Communication (DROMIC), mahigit sa Php55.28 million humanitarian aid ang naipamahagi na ng DSWD sa mga pamilya at indibidwal na nasalanta ng bagyo. Kabilang na dito ang FFPs at food and non-food items.

Samantala, sinabi naman ni Special Assistant to the Secretary (SAS) for Disaster Response and Management Group (DRMG) and Concurrent Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the National Resource and Logistics Management Bureau (NRLMB) Leo Quintilla ang kahandaan ng DSWD sa isinasagawang disaster response operation sa pamamagitan ng Buong Bansa Handa (BBH) project.

Ang BBH ayon kay SAS Quintilla ay nagtataglay ng dalawang parallel supply chain mechanisms para sa disaster preparedness and response. Isa dito ang national and local government-driven supply chain, at ikalawa ang supply chain partnerships sa mga large and small groceries, supermarkets, manufacturers, and distributors upang iangat at maibahagi ang kanilang technical expertise and resources para mgkaroon ng private sector-driven supply chain.

“In just one day, we have already released around 71,000 FFPs. Ito po yung pinakamabilis. Bakit po pinakamabilis? Number one ay nagkaroon tayo ng programa na tinatawag na BBH. This is a strategy of the DSWD, especially on the production and propositioning of FFPs especially to different levels. We called that the hubs, the spokes, and last miles,” sabi ni SAS Quintilla.

Ipinaliwanag din nito na ang mga hubs ang siyang nagsisilbing production area at central storage facilities. Kabilang dito ang NROC sa Pasay, Valenzuela, at Paranaque; Visayas Disaster Resource Centers (VDRC) sa Mandaue City, Cebu.

Mayroon din aniyang apat na nasa DSWD FO 3-Central Luzon hubs sa Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, at Tarlac; gayundin sa DSWD FO 11-Davao Region hub na nasa Pantukan, Davao de Oro.

Isa pang hub ang kasalukuyang itinatayo sa Butuan City sa Caraga Region. Magsisilbi itong hub para maserbisyuhan ang buong Mindanao.

“Ang hubs po ay may kakayahan na mag-produce ng 10,000 to 15,000 FFPs a day,” sabi pa ng NRLMB OIC.

Bukod sa mga huba ang DSWD ay mayroon ding 75 spokes facilities nationwide na bigay ng LGUs at nakaposisyon sa 1st, 2nd, and 3rd class municipalities.

“Yung atin namang mga spokes, these are the DSWD regional warehouses—owned, managed, or rented by the DSWD. Ito naman po ay may kakayahan magstore ng 5,000 up to 10,000 FFPs. Ito ay usually sa mga major cities and regional centers natin,” sabi pa ni SAS Quintilla.

Ang last mile warehouses nationwide naman ay nasa are Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) o yung mga lugar na mahirap marating at nasa 4th, 5th, at 6th class municipalities.

“Ang last mile warehouses ay may capacity of less than 5,000,” sabi pa ng opisyal.#